Urban Environmental Acupuncture for Improving the Sustainability of Dense City Areas – Polish Experiences from the SALUTE4CE Project

In the context of the need for sustainable development and climate challenges, it is widely believed that it is in cities and good urban planning that the challenges of the modern world can find common solutions: environmental, social and economic [1]. One of the basic tenets of city shaping is the idea of a compact city [2], but shaping a compact and multifunctional urban structure obviously makes ecological sense insofar as overdevelopment and concentration in one place allows undeveloped open green spaces to remain; interconnected and forming the urban natural system. Shaping sustainable built environment requires a holistic approach that not only considers the physical form of the city and the design of its buildings but also its environmental systems, water and energy resources allocation, transportation networks and its relationship with natural and working landscapes [3]. Until recently, green spaces were looked at primarily as places for recreation, but today it is becoming common to embrace green and blue urban infrastructure, which provides improvements in microclimate, humidity and air quality, water retention, enhances the biodiversity of the natural system, reduces the urban heat island effect, and in the process also increases the attractiveness and functionality of public spaces. Climate change has significantly influenced the way urban areas are planned and managed in cities worldwide, including Poland, and it has impacted the formulation of urban strategies, policies and comprehensive plans for shaping green infrastructure and adapting to climate change [4].

Urban areas have various potential and possibilities in creating green urban infrastructure systems, and the issue is particularly challenging in dense urban areas, with scarce green spaces and permeable surface, where the percentage of sealed land surface is very high and prevents natural rainwater retention. In such areas, architects and urbanists have advocated for alternative solutions, such as integration of greenery in building, which has recently evolved from unique, biophilic experiments in prestigious investments, to a pervasive element of mainstream architecture, important in the context of climate challenges and sustainable development, and multiplied from individual buildings to urban design strategies, as part of adaptation to climate change [5]. Possible solutions range from the proliferation of retention green roofs [6], to green walls, canopies, vegetation integrated into facades, etc. [7]. In this context, the idea of urban environmental acupuncture postulates, that in urban areas where it is difficult to save large areas for planting greenery, sustainability and climate resistance can be improved by systematic introduction of small green spaces, providing nature-based solutions and linked within the system of green-blue infrastructure.

The very idea of urban acupuncture, as popularized by Jaime Lerner, praises small, efficient spatial interventions to achieve several benefits for the city and its inhabitants [8]. Following this idea, urban environmental acupuncture is the utilization of small urban areas for planting urban greenery in a systematic way. The project’s main objective is to protect and develop natural resources by means of integrated environmental management of green and blue infrastructure, planting native species of plants and plants resistant to climatic conditions. The aim of the application of the idea of urban acupuncture abroad is rapid and efficient revitalization of cities and land resulting in positive long-term changes in the quality of urban environment [9]. Urban environmental acupuncture can be used for different purposes: providing greenery in existing public spaces or residential areas, creating new public spaces within neglected areas, etc. The acupuncture enables increasing environmental, functional and aesthetic value of neglected places which have potential for improvement: areas in districts, squares, inner courtyards of residential quarters, building facades, areas of service facilities e.g. schools, neglected strips of land along streets, pedestrian routes and cycle paths, in the vicinity of public transport stops etc.

Promoting and implementing the idea of urban environmental acupuncture was a key aim of the international project Integrated environmental management of small green spots in functional urban areas following the idea of acupuncture (SALUTE4CE), which was realized within the European Union Interreg Central Europe framework in 2019-2022, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project aimed at urban areas in central European cities, where for various reasons it is difficult to save large areas for planting greenery. It involved partners from five countries: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Silesian Botanical Garden and the city of Chorzów (Poland), Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development and Impulse Region (Germany), LINKS Foundation -Leading Innovation & Knowledge for Society, LAMORO Development Agency, Municipality of Alessandria (Italy), Institute for Sustainable Development of Settlements (Czech Republic) and City of Liptovsky Mikulas (Slovakia). The initial stages of the project included elaborating on the key idea of urban environmental acupuncture, creating guidance for nature-based solutions and creating a general methodology for site selection and evaluation; as well as initiating pilot projects in several member cities. A further included elaborating Action Plans for specific cities and areas, with the aim to identify intervention sites and the specific tasks, activities and resources needed to implement urban environmental acupuncture [10]. The author was responsible for formulating such Action Plan for the Functional Urban Area (FUA) of three cities: Chorzów, Ruda Śląska and Świętochłowice.

The study area consists of three cities located in the middle of the Katowice metropolitan area (GZM metropolis) in southern Poland: Chorzów, Ruda Śląska and Świętochłowice, with total area of 12419 km² and a population of 294 000 (2020). Like most of the GZM metropolis area, the cities have developed on heavy industry: coal mining and metallurgy; and in recent years have aimed at a sustainable transformation. Thanks to revitalization, several degraded green areas, including parks and squares, have been regenerated [11] and several cities have elaborated Climate change adaptation plans [12]. The spatial structure of these cities is a polycentric mixture areas of different functions, defined primarily by the development and long-term functioning of industrial plants [13]. Industrial and post-industrial sites and areas, such as heaps and dumps, are located in the vicinity of urban centres. Post-industrial sites are a characteristic environmental resource, valuable also due to the succession of vegetation. The share of man-made sites in the FUA reaches 56% [14].

Figure 1.

The functioning of biologically active areas (native land green areas with rainwater retention capabilities) is connected with the high degree of soil sealing as a result of intensive industrialisation and urbanisation. The areas of high intensity residential development are characterised by high population density and are vulnerable to negative climatic phenomena such as heat waves, urban heat island, heavy rainfall. The availability of green space varies considerably between neighbourhoods. The decrease of biologically active areas is visible in the development areas in the centres of districts, in transport areas and housing estates [15].

In Chorzów, the natural system consists of urban green areas and watercourses and reservoirs. According to the Chorzów Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2030, the functioning of biologically active areas in the city is connected with the degree of soil sealing, which is high as a result of intensive industrialisation processes and the accompanying urbanisation. The share of green areas in the area of the city of Chorzów amounts to 34.5% (including the Provincial Park of Culture and Recreation with an area of about 630 ha). The areas of high intensity residential development are characterised by high population density and thus are vulnerable to negative climatic phenomena such as heat waves, urban heat island, heavy rainfall. The availability of green space varies considerably between neighbourhoods and parts of the city.

Figure 2.

Ruda Śląska is a polycentric city consisting of separate districts with undeveloped areas in between. The natural system of Ruda Śląska consists of biologically active areas, forests, urban greenery and unmanaged areas, watercourses and water reservoirs. Areas of high natural value are mainly: rivers, river valleys, streams, ponds with adjacent areas (rushes), meadows, forests. Forest land covers a total area of approx. 20% of the city. There are 7 parks and 55 green areas in different parts of the city, with an area of about 72 ha. In addition, there are 26 family allotment gardens in the city with a total area of 188 ha. The decrease of biologically active areas is visible in the development areas in the centres of districts, in transport areas and housing estates. In recent years, Ruda Śląska has carried out numerous actions to improve the quality, accessibility and environmental value of green areas, including revitalisation of post-industrial areas.

In Świętochłowice, the natural system has been significantly transformed by various human activities, mainly connected with the development of industry and urbanization. Plant communities are represented almost exclusively by anthropogenic systems, without high natural value. The city lacks forest areas, but there are forest-like communities and artificially created afforestations. In total, the groups of trees and bushes in the above-mentioned areas cover approx. 133 ha. The structure of communal green areas in Świętochłowice includes: 5 parks; residential green areas; street greenery with groups of old trees, as well as formal and informal hedges.

In the context of considering the joint development of green acupuncture sites, the provisions of the Integrated Development Strategy of the Functional Area of Chorzów, Ruda Śląska and Świętochłowice until 2030 [16] are important, with the following strategic goals and priorities:

The vision of public green space for the FUA of Chorzów, Ruda Śląska and Świętochłowice in relation to the functions assigned to green spots, formulated within the SALUTE4CE project in Erfurt in December 2019, is as follows:

The work program included the following phases: Preparatory, preliminary activities – by October 2020; Analytical – collection and analysis of plans, documents; search for potential locations for green acupuncture sites, public consultation point – by December 2020; Development of the Action Plan – selection of sites, outlining the plan of undertakings, defining the actions and recommendations for the future – by August 2021; Formulating and editing of the Action Plan text – September 2021.

The site evaluation was based of an analysis of exclusionary circumstances and admissibility criteria, followed by a scoring of necessity and suitability [17]. Representatives of the local community, stakeholders and different types of institutions and organisations were invited to participate in the discussions within the so-called living labs, which include public presentations, discussions, meetings, workshops. The aim was to gain knowledge from local stakeholders – inhabitants, civic associations, experts – to identify priorities and to obtain bottom-up knowledge about needs and opportunities (due to dynamically changing pandemic restrictions, the meetings took different forms: outdoor meetings, online meetings, sanitary requirements). Within the verification process, out of 67 considered sites, 27 were selected for potential locations of green urban acupuncture. In Chorzów they are mainly located in the city centre – neglected, sealed yards and courtyards of multi-family housing developments, deprived of sufficient greenery; as well as two neglected squares with potential for significant improvement of environmental and utility values and one car park with potential for transformation into a green square. In Ruda Śląska greenery deficits were identified locally, mainly in neglected open areas, insufficiently developed, lacking trees and not providing sufficient comfort. In Świętochłowice the selected sites were courtyards of a municipal housing. Within the elaborating of the Action Plan, the author was responsible for assigning recommended nature-based solutions for the selected sites and types of green spaces, as well as formulating recommendations about complementary development elements and potential partnerships in construction, maintenance and evaluation.

The Action Plan formulates detailed recommendations for 27 green acupuncture spots. Measures and approaches suitable for the selected green acupuncture sites in the FUA were identified according to the list of possible Nature-Based Solutions, developed within the SALUTE4CE methodology [17]. For the green acupuncture sites recommendations were made for complementary development elements such as urban furniture, street art, elements of artistic design, lighting, visual information, green bus stop, elements for children’s play, botanical educational boards. Additional recommendations included: potential beneficiaries and partners (e.g. residents, schools, institutions, public transport passengers, etc.); institutions responsible for financing and maintenance; remarks regarding the neighbourhood and previous studies and design work already carried out for the areas. While for most cases the Action Plan ended at a list of recommendations related to a list of nature-based solutions examples and reference projects, some sites were illustrated by conceptual designs by people involved in the participatory processes, including students. Furthermore, four SALUTE4CE financed pilot projects have been actually realized in Chorzów.

The table below presents the recommendations for three examples of the 27 selected sites. The first one is a local street in Ruda Śląska, located in the Wirek district, along a pedestrian path to a local shopping centre (Fig. 3, 4). The sites potential to become a local green spot with neighbourhood amenities was further elaborated in the students’ project (Fig. 5). The second site is one of many neglected, narrow backyards in Chorzów public housing (Fig. 6), where the inhabitants have already begun to introduce simple, makeshift elements of greenery (Fig. 7), which shows the need and potential to create green spaces together with the dwellers. In contrast to the narrow backyard in Chorzów, the third example is a rather large space adjacent to a housing block in Świętochłowice (Fig. 8, 9), which is, however, completely underdeveloped as a concrete slab with no particular use for the dwellers.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

Figure 8.

Figure 9.

As it is important that the urban spots are not only created, but maintained for future use, maintenance and monitoring recommendations were formulated. The proposed principles were: emphasis on native species; soil quality; plant selection determined by minimum requirements for supplementary irrigation; biodiversity and purchasing plants from local retailers; effective natural irrigation; a share of on-site composting; correct choice of mowing intensity; planting trees that serve as protection from adverse weather conditions from solar radiation and heating of surfaces, etc. The plan also includes recommendations on: shaping green neighbourhood spaces at residential developments, plant species selection, financing, public participation, etc.

Four SALUTE4CE financed pilot projects have been actually realized in Chorzów, based on projects by Franta&Franta Architects [19], and include pedestrian streets and housing courtyards. The results are promising and accepted by the public.

The first realized pilot project transformed a neglected, concrete pedestrian street in the centre of Chorzów (Fig. 10) by providing high quality paving with grass spaces, arranging and complementing greenery along the street (grass, bushes, trees), as well as providing comfortable and durable seating. The improvement of quality and comfort resulted in a more pleasant experience for the dwellers choosing to use the street (Fig. 11, 12).

Figure 10.

Figure 11.

Figure 12.

The second realized pilot project transformed a neglected courtyard (Fig. 13) by improving paving, planting greenery on site and on a wall, and providing simple seating, recreation tables and play spaces, as well as plant pots, with flowers planted together with the inhabitants and to be further maintained by them. The improvement of quality and comfort of the space provided a better recreation space for the dwellers with prospects of better interaction of the local micro-community (Fig. 14, 15).

Figure 13.

Figure 14.

Figure 15.

Financing of further sites is assumed mainly from budgets of the cities. Environmental and social benefits allow potential financing from external sources: Regional Operational Programme; provincial and national Funds for Environmental Protection; Funds of Civic Initiatives; EU Regional Development Fund, etc. The project assumes supporting bottom-up activities of residents and local institutions.

The idea of creating urban environmental acupuncture sites for integrated enhancement of environmental and climatic values and functionality of sites, with positive effects on the local quality of life may be particularly important in the future for increasing environmental awareness of residents and education in pro-ecological behaviour and actions on a local scale, in the context of global and European challenges, and in line with European Union’s guidelines for action in cities to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The processes of creation of green acupuncture spots initiated in the project should be implemented and continued, according to the guidelines and recommendations elaborated within the project, and monitoring should draw conclusions from the implementation. If successful, the idea may be further implemented within adaptation and mitigation of climate change. So far, in March 2022, city authorities signed a declaration on cooperation, which sets further directions towards implementing the idea of urban environmental acupuncture declare further cooperation regarding the implementation of its objectives (the relevant letter of intent was signed by Grażyna Dziedzic, president of Ruda Śląska, Daniel Beger, president of Świętochłowice, and Marcin Michalik, deputy mayor of Chorzów) [20]. The idea of green acupuncture may also be adapted in strategic and operational documents; and could be promoted through urban spatial information systems, with thematic layers such as a detailed map of urban greenery.

The described project has been based on the concept of urban environmental acupuncture, saying that in urban areas where it is difficult to save large areas for planting greenery, sustainability and climate resistance can be improved by systematic introduction of small green spaces, providing nature-based solutions and linked within the system of green-blue infrastructure. While such activities bring obvious benefits locally, achieving effects due to a larger number of these places, contributing to coherent and stable processes of urban regeneration, will have to be further evaluated and monitored after realization of the sites.