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We Need to Talk About Green Cities

And accessibility, of course.

By Asterion AvocadoPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
Top Story - March 2022
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We Need to Talk About Green Cities
Photo by Nerea Martí Sesarino on Unsplash

Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future — Otto Pörtner

Increased weather and climatic extremes have already had irreparable consequences. Heatwaves have been more intense, droughts have become more severe, and wildfires have become more prevalent. Humanitarian crises are forcing individuals from all over the world to flee their homes as a result of these developments. Those who have contributed the least to the situation are likely to bear the brunt of the consequences.

Plants and animals are also being strained far beyond their ability to adapt. Hundreds of local species extinctions, as well as large death events on land and in the waters, can be linked to climate change.

While I understand that action is needed the most at mass levels (fashion, water, fishing industry, big-scale pollution, etc), I do believe that the opportunity to increase people’s sensibility to the matter is right there, near their homes.

For this, and other ethical and design reasons that we will discuss, I would like to share with you my research on Accessible Cities and Urban Green.

Ideal Cities

I could never forget when I first came across the image of the city depicted by Piero della Francesca in The Ideal City. Some teachers taught us about how for the period perfection was symmetry, harmony with God or an architectonically city with man (as in human one hopes) at its centre.

I loved it, I loved the idea. After all, aesthetics, intellectualism, and culture had always been something to aspire to. But now, I’m not sure. While I still aspire to fill my life with those elements, I wonder why an ideal city would be so yellow, or nowadays, grey. Where is the green? What is the role left for nature in such an “Ideal” world?

Ideal City, della Francesca

Green Urbanity and Sustainability

In the past I have written about tree canopies. While I would like to further the scope of green for cities here, it might be a good idea to rehash some information on tree equity.

The tree equity passage of the Build Back Better Act acknowledges that in America communities of colour are found to live under 33% less tree canopy coverage than white communities, on average. Even poorer neighbourhoods see the great majority of their inhabitants living under 41% less tree canopy cover than communities with higher average socioeconomic background.

Concrete jungles we call them, evoking the nostalgia we feel for nature, or the romanticism often associated with modern life. However, real concrete jungles (dense concrete and asphalt areas), streets and areas deprived of vegetation, create urban heat islands. These islands have none of the romantic features of the 80s Tv series’ modern living. Instead, on very hot days they retain all of the heat coming from the sun, which intensifies temperatures until they become unbearable for many people.

Tree canopies are very effective in reducing the health stress caused by urban heat islands.

And what about green parks and architecture?

Recycling of spaces through renovation, rehabilitation, and adaptive re-use, use of local and also organic compounds, energy-positive buildings, walkable cities, rooftop gardens, water-conserving designs, smart power innovations, adaptable houses made to survive massive flooding and downpours, and hidden buildings intended to completely blend with nature are all architectural trends influencing the future of green architecture.

By Victor on Unsplash

Among the notable architects who have had an impact on green building architecture around the world are American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who is regarded as one of the founding members of sustainable architecture; Norman Foster; William McDonough; Italian architect Renzo Piano; Glenn Murcutt; Malaysian architect Ken Yeang; and Rolf Disch.

The benefits of this type of architecture are unlimited, and they include health benefits for people and other animals, sustainability, cost-efficiency and temperature regulation.

Big trends: Urban Farming

Urban farming (or urban agriculture) is a term that refers to farming that covers food production in suburbs, regional centres, cities, and villages. It excludes irrigated and broad-acre farming on a wider scale.

Urban agriculture and food production may include the following:

  • Fruit and vegetable cultivation
  • Beekeeping, aquaculture, hydroponics, and aquaponics
  • Livestock, particularly poultry.

Urban farming offers a variety of benefits, including increased food security for low-income people, employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalised people, increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and reduced environmental impacts due to less transportation, packaging, and storage. According to research conducted in Melbourne, Australia’s major centre of urban agriculture, urban agriculture has the potential to play a bigger role in boosting the food security of Australian cities and creating urban resilience in a changing environment.

But an ideal city must be ideal for everyone.

Accessible Cities

In this context, accessibility refers to the design of items, technologies, services, transportation, or whole environments to make them useable by individuals with disabilities.

Why is it important for cities to be accessible to everyone?

Disabled people are frequently excluded from life options — and daily living — in cities. People with disabilities account for around 15% of the global population, with 85 per cent of those residing in poor nations (WHO 2011 Report on Disability). However, barriers to inclusion are sometimes impenetrable in impoverished nations as well as many cities in rich countries. Often there are no sidewalks, or they are not in proper conditions for persons with disabilities. There are extremely few safe crossing sites along roadways, and where they do exist, they are frequently blocked by elevated curbs.

By Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash

Cities only a few years ago began to acquire an inclusive mindset. Until recently, municipal governments’ urban design did not take architectural impediments into account or assure complete accessibility for the disabled. Adapting civic settings to all people, on the other hand, is one of the highest objectives for sustainability today.

An ideal city must be ideal for everyone.

It feels important to notice that sustainability is not only lived in the architectonical. Social inclusion is also important in ensuring equitable opportunities for its residents.

Another element is the easiness with which a disabled person may find and hold a job. According to the European Commission, individuals with disabilities account for one-sixth of the EU’s total working-age population, but their employment rate is very low.

How can a city become accessible?

Research from the University of Melbourne generated 240 ideas to make the City of Melbourne more inclusive.

One of them was to enhance public transportation. It was vital for persons with psychosocial and auditory disabilities not just to have easier access to transportation, but also to have clear directions on speakers and a courteous approach from transportation employees.

All sessions provided footpath suggestions, including ideas for decreasing cluttering and tripping hazards, as well as increasing hygiene and navigation.

Participants also emphasised the need to include individuals with disabilities in the development of laws and building codes.

By Coleen Rivas on Unsplash

I think back on the concept of the ideal city. From Piero della Francesca’s design to new, modern cities being built around and with nature. Is it time to change our ideals, and set them around sustainability and accessibility? After all, if we let our imagination do the work, what would be the difference between a utopic and a dystopian city?

Sustainability
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About the Creator

Asterion Avocado

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Comments (2)

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  • Nick Scibiliaabout a year ago

    Green cities look beautiful!

  • Hannah Arianna Ashtonabout a year ago

    I see no downsides to green cities! They're beautiful and better for us

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