The conversion of the reinforced concrete post-war brownfield sites into greenfields: Green line buffer zone of Cyprus

Abstract

Brownfield areas are hazardous areas that arise as a result of the disuse of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, which pose an obstacle to planning and decision-making mechanisms for the regions in which they are located in terms of environment and energy, and are a global problem for settlements. In planning studies where sustainability principles are taken into account, both abandoned reinforced concrete structures and abandoned traditional structures that contribute to natural life should be considered together. Brown field structures built with traditional and reinforced concrete materials can be seen in the green line region of the island of Cyprus. Converting abandoned building areas built from concrete material remaining in the unused buffer zone after the war on the island into green corridors is important to ensure sustainability. In this context, the study was evaluated in line with the Wheeler Sustainability Principles, the weight of each marker was determined in line with the literature review and local expert reports, and a road map that could be used to transform brown areas into green areas was created. This study both contributes to the limited existing literature and reveals the effects of energy and environmental sustainability in abandoned areas.