Filling infrastructures and urban voids with nature: green areas typology

Abstract

The present paper aims to highlight the variety and the functions of green areas in urban contexts, focusing on those which are related to the infrastructures, as components of the environmental heritage.
The typology is preliminarily studied from the historical viewpoint. Tree avenues represented the oldest example to join vegetation and modern infrastructures. In the mid-19th century, whilst the continental European countries experienced the first planned urban growth, the English and American public parks met further social and health needs, and developed innovative space-use relationships.
Several ecological benefits are offered by green areas in urban environments, including storm-water management, bioclimatic aspects, and biodiversity conservation. Both planting design and management are essential to achieve such results, to ensure that the transport system, the community needs and the plants could coexist in urban environments.