Urban Planning Practice Research Articles

Spatial transformation of industrial territories: Experience and prospects of Tyumen

Transformation of the architectural heritage of large cities, which also includes that of industrial areas, can be seen as a development and reconstruction driver of modern urban development. In this work, we aimed to propose methods for spatial transformation of urban industrial or mixed areas in the structure of a large city. A structural assessment of the urban planning practice and experience in the city of Tyumen was conducted to identify architectural and planning approaches to the reconstruction of depressive post-industrial areas. Following an analysis of the existing location and concentration of industrial areas, along with their main parameters, and the experience of experimental design of renovated districts, the Babarinka industrial district in the northern part of the city was selected. This district is characterized by its direct interconnection with the city center, a combined type and small-cell structure of the existing buildings, and its historical interrelation with the open space of the river. Typological and morphological features of the existing industrial areas in the city, interacting with the surrounding urban areas in different ways, were determined based on the theory of mixed urban development. A combined assessment of urban planning data enables the key parameters of urban transformation to be determined and the basic planning structures to be identified. The latter include spatial planning, transportation and pedestrian networks, landscaping, and functional zoning. These planning structures determine the key qualitative parameters of the transformation design concept of industrial areas, thus serving as criteria for evaluating various-scale design solutions.

Optimizing urban resource efficiency: A scenario analysis of shared sports facilities in fostering sustainable communities in Nanjing, China

Despite extensive urban infrastructure development, a shortage of community resources and amenities, particularly for physical activity, remains pervasive in high-density Chinese cities. A joint-use agreement (JUA) allows community access to school sports facilities, providing a low-cost approach to increasing the number of sports facilities available for residents’ use. To demonstrate the potential benefits of JUA and optimize the efficiency of urban resources, this study proposes a JUA scenario for football pitches in Nanjing, China, using a walking route-based methodology. In this scenario, the football pitches catchment areas expanded from 66.19 km2 to 169.46 km2 and the percentage of residential building points of interest within the catchment areas increased from 35.39% to 91.46%. The research results indicate that JUA can significantly reduce the travel costs for residents to access sports services, and it holds significant implications for urban walkability, physical activities and sustainable communities. The scenario analysis methodology applied in the study is expected to be broadly applicable to other studies on the accessibility of urban facilities and the findings provide valuable insights for urban planning practice in China.

Reflection of changes in post-war architecture and town planning of Kharkiv in periodical specialist publications

The article provides a historiographical overview of publications about the architecture and construction of Kharkov in professional architectural journals of Ukraine during the period of post-war reconstruction (1947-1955) and during the transition period of “changes in the artistic direction of Soviet architecture.” The article contains a description of the views and positions of Kharkov architects on current architectural and urban planning issues. This period of development of Kharkiv architecture and urban planning is fundamentally conceptually and stylistically heterogeneous. Accordingly, around the middle of the 1950s, the nature of the content and tone of the publications changed significantly. This is due to ideological and political transformations in the country as a whole, and in particular radical changes in the "ideological and creative direction" of Soviet architecture. The topics of the publications of Kharkiv architects considered in this article cover a wide range from the main provisions of the General Plans of the city to a critical examination of the features of specific buildings, as well as the problems of professional training of architects. The authors of the researched publications are architects-designers, construction engineers, officials, including the main architects of the city at that time, teachers of architectural universities. The beginning of the researched period is the post-war reconstruction of Kharkiv, the publications of the first post-war decade reflect the current architectural and urban planning practice, the prospects for the implementation of various aspects of the first master plan for the development of the city. Literary sources of the mid-1950s fully reflect the turn in the direction of the development of architecture on the example of Kharkov. Professional magazines pay more attention not to architectural activity, but to construction problems. The change in the name of the magazine indirectly indicates the beginning of a change in attitude towards the profession of an architect. The final part of this article will be published later; it covers publications during the transition to industrial construction of the 1960s - early 1970s.

RECONVERSION OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS IN FRANCE

This article examines the process of converting industrial sites in France, transforming outdated industrial zones into modern, innovative spaces. This approach preserves historical and cultural heritage while revitalizing the economic and socio-cultural potential of the regions. The study focuses on the use of the BASOL and BASIAS databases for monitoring contaminated areas and planning their remediation, which is a key aspect of successful reconversion. The article analyzes the legislative framework and programs supporting this process, emphasizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in developing effective strategies for industrial site recovery. The study addresses key factors influencing architectural and urban reconversion and the sustainable development of industrial areas, including the environmental impact of mining activities and land degradation. Special attention is given to the potential of abandoned industrial zones for urban regeneration through sustainable reconversion and the reuse of abandoned urban spaces. The article explores methods of architectural and urban reconversion: building adaptation, phytoremediation, and the repurposing of existing industrial facilities for new uses. It highlights four fundamental principles of architectural and urban reconversion: synthesis, viability, environmental safety, and the integration of industrial objects into the urban fabric. Using France as an example, the study investigates the transformation of degraded industrial areas through architectural and urban reconversion. The use of the BASOL and BASIAS databases for monitoring contaminated sites and planning their remediation is a crucial tool in developing reconversion strategies aimed at restoring and sustainably developing these areas. The processes of industrial site reconversion in France reflect comprehensive approaches to building adaptation, phytoremediation, and economic diversification. The concept of reconversion represents a complex, multi-layered approach to territory transformation, combining various scientific fields including architecture, urban planning, urban studies, history, and ecology. Strategies resulting from this integration not only preserve cultural heritage and unique architectural features but also minimize environmental harm by optimizing the use of material resources. Incorporating the principles of synthesis, environmental safety, integration of industrial objects, and viability into urban planning practices can promote sustainable urban development in Ukraine, enhance the quality of urban environments, and support inclusive development by expanding social and economic opportunities.

Recreational Space as the Embodiment of the Garden of Eden Archetype

The purpose of the article is to research the spiritual basis and motivation of human activity in the relationships between humans and the natural environment to create various forms of recreational spaces in the socio-cultural context of the post-industrial era. Theoretical basis. The research is based on the approach of analytical psychology by C. Jung, who identified the archetypes of the collective unconscious. These archetypes help overcome the limitations of the functional and pragmatic approach, which is focused on mere survival. They make sense and provide values in the relationship between humans and nature. Originality. The article evaluates how archetypal images of the collective unconscious, with the help of the Garden of Eden image in the socio-cultural context of European civilization, influence the recreational space in contemporary urban environments. The novelty of the work is also in the interdisciplinary approach, integrating knowledge from various fields such as philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, analytical psychology, and urban planning, which contributes to the profound understanding of complex socio-cultural processes. This paradigm emphasizes the interconnection and interdependence, adaptability, and co-evolution of society and nature, as well as requires the interdisciplinary methodological approach. Additionally, the article presents a fresh perspective on nature and its elements in terms of their importance both for individuals and society. Conclusions. The article investigates the socio-cultural factors that evoke the interest of man and society in natural factors as a recreational resource and determine the latest theoretical approaches to their use. Various recreational activities to create a renewed space provide a person with a full physical, socio-psychological and cognitive development. The humanization of the natural environment becomes the embodiment of the collective memory and history of mankind. The recreational space symbolizes spiritual values, so it is transformed from physical to socio-cultural and provides theoretical approaches to its implementation in modern urban planning practices.

Managing Luso-Utopia in Guinea-Bissau: Imperial Fictions and Dwelling Practices in Late Portuguese Colonialism (1945-74)

Portugal ruled Guinea-Bissau (then Portuguese Guinea), one of the last European colonial empires, until 1974, when the fifty-year dictatorship was overthrown and the colony dismantled. Until that time, its power had been maintained through the productive nationalist fiction, commonly referred to as luso-tropicalism, that the Portuguese created peaceful multi-racial colonial cultures through miscegenation. This paper examines the spatial production of this fiction as a concrete political utopia in the empire’s last phase in Africa, from 1945 to 1974, by looking at how colonial spatial practices in Guinea-Bissau contributed to both the assembling and the disassembling of empire. Grounded in original archival and field research conducted in Guinea-Bissau from 2019 to 2023, this paper asks what architectural and urban planning practices supported the fruition of a luso-tropical horizon. This involves analysing not only experts and their designs, but also how these contributed to everyday experiences of space through which Portuguese and Guineans dwelled in the luso-tropical utopia. Dwelling is here understood as both a set of architectural practices that define housing and city as well as the lived experience of urbanity. This approach enables a critical examination of how Portugal’s enduring imperial fiction was produced, managed, and lived in colonial spatialities, while also identifying the residue from colonialism that has persisted from these dwelling experiences into the present. This article, thus, expands the field of colonial architecture historiography by presenting a little-known case study which exposes architecture’s ties to governance, violence and resistance; it also assesses the political effects and residues of a colonial utopia in the present, by addressing the lived experience and agency of Guineans in architecture history.

Spatial Planning Prerequisites for the Development of Affordable Housing in the Center of the City of Zagreb

This paper analyzes the concept of affordable housing and urban planning instruments that incentivize its development, especially in city centers. Considering the shortage of affordable housing in Zagreb, the research aims to identify contemporary urban planning practices that focus on the social function of housing and the role that local urban and housing policies have in ensuring access to it. By comparing the strategic documents for the housing development of the cities of Lyon and Barcelona and models of their implementation in the local urban plans for the areas of city centers and contact brownfield areas, the provisions incentivizing the development of the affordable housing (right of pre-emption, category of subsidized housing, inclusionary zoning, density bonus, and protection of residential use) are singled out. In the context of urban renewal of the historic center of Zagreb and of brownfield redevelopment in the contact zone of the city center, inclusion of the aforementioned provisions in local urban plans is examined, demonstrating the potential that such instrument has for the development of affordable housing in the city center.

Insights/Opinion — Harnessing Complexity and Participatory Foresight: An Innovative Approach for Sustainable Urban Planning

This Insight paper argues that urban planning should be more than “smart” or more than just relying on the sheer amount of urban data. Rather, the urban planning should also incorporate foresight to address the complexity of urban development that urban data might have revealed. To do this, we propose the convergence of foresight (or futures studies) and complexity science within the context of urban planning. Foresight equips stakeholders with tools to anticipate and prepare for future scenarios in urban development, facilitating strategic decision-making, risk management, and policy development. Complexity science, on the other hand, offers a deeper understanding of urban systems by examining nonlinear interactions and emergent properties. This paper discusses how complexity science enriches our comprehension of urban systems, revealing intricate patterns and behaviors in the urban context. This, in turn, informed foresight methodologies that can enhance urban planning by considering dynamic urban systems. This Insight paper suggests the way to move forward is by combining foresight and complexity science for developing innovative urban planning practices to shape the future of smart and sustainable cities.

Centering Community Perspectives to Advance Recognitional Justice for Sustainable Cities: Lessons from Urban Forest Practice

Cities worldwide are grappling with complex urban environmental injustices. While environmental justice as a concept has gained prominence in both academia and policy, operationalizing and implementing environmental justice principles and norms remains underexplored. Notably, less attention has been given to centering the perspectives and experiences of community-based actors operating at the grassroots level, who can inform and strengthen urban environmental justice practice. Through ethnographic, participant-as-observer methods, interviews, and geovisualizations, this study explores the perspectives, experiences, knowledge, and practices of community-based urban forest stewards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (United States) who are invested in addressing environmental injustices through urban tree-planting and stewardship. Interviewees were asked how they were addressing issues of distribution, procedure, and recognition in urban forest planning and practice, as well as the socio-political and institutional factors that have influenced their perspectives and practices. Particular attention is given to how urban forest stewards implement recognitional justice principles. Findings from this study exposed several complex socio-political challenges affecting steward engagement in community-led tree initiatives and the broader pursuit of environmental justice, including discriminatory urban planning practices, gentrification concerns, underrepresentation of Black and Latinx voices in decision-making, volunteer-based tree-planting models, and tree life cycle costs. Nevertheless, urban forest stewards remain dedicated to collective community-building to address environmental injustices and stress the importance of recognizing, listening to, dialoguing with, and validating the perspectives and experiences of their neighbors as essential to their process.

Technological features of cultural ecosystem services assessment

The benefits that city residents receive from green spaces related to maintaining their health are a group of cultural ecosystem services (CES). To avoid subjectivity in the assessment of CES, there is a methodology based on determining the effectiveness of green spaces in providing them. Currently, there is no technological scheme for assessing the CES available to urban planners. Accordingly, the purpose of the paper is to highlight the technological features of the CES assessment. Methodologically, the work consists in creating a geodatabase (DB) on the state of green spaces and anthropogenic pressure on them. All the calculation indicators proposed in the methodology should be included in the database as attributes, and their calculation should be performed as working scenarios documented in the form of automated calculation models, etc. The technology is based on QGIS/SAGA spatial analysis tools (QGIS version 3.32.1-Lima), which contains the necessary basic geoprocessing algorithms and modules for calculating the CES. The technology for estimating CES is presented in the Model_CES. The functioning of the Model_CES depends on the amount and quality of input data. As input data, the database includes information on: urban green spaces; vegetation; landscapes; areas with multi-age urban development; local areas of urban population concentration; survey statistics, etc. Attribute information is the basis for the correct operation of the Model_CES algorithms, in particular, the calculation of parameters by which it is proposed to assess the volume of CES. Adequate to the parameters, a file database in the GeoPackage format was formed in accordance with the standards of the Open Geospatial Consortium - Model_CES, which contains the input data sets: tabular: "survey_all"; vector: "Vegetation", "BGI", "local_district", "hollow", "age_consruct". Technological procedures and algorithm for calculating CES volumes and risks of their loss in Model_CES form calculation blocks: 1. a block for determining the potential of green spaces in providing CES; 2. a block for determining the effectiveness of the green space in providing CES - the real supply of CES; 3. a block for calculating the volume of ecosystem services and the risks of their loss; 4. a block for calculating the score of alternative availability of the green space. As a result, the proposed algorithm produces the output geodataset "BGI_CES". After the implementation of the technology, this dataset contains attribute information about each green space, in particular, their ability to provide cultural ecosystem services, efficiency in providing CES, the volume of CES and the risks of their loss. Thus, the paper solves the scientific task of creating an assessment technology that meets the following requirements: it is suitable for processing information that is spatially distributed; it is focused on the availability of uncertain and often limited data; it is available for use by specialists of design and other institutions that may be limited in data. The presented technology can be used in urban planning practice as a tool for improving the quality of urban green spaces, their sustainable development and providing citizens with the maximum amount of CES.

CARDO AND DECUMANUS IN THE HISTORICAL URBAN PLANNING OF KYIV

The article clarifies conceptual meaning of the classical terms of the ancient gromatic (urban planning) art — "cardo" and "decumanus". The issue of continuity of the Roman, Byzantine and Old Russian planning traditions is considered on the example of the city of Yaroslav’s layout in Kyiv. The planning value of the Golden Gate in Kyiv and Constantinople has been determined. The conclusion is made about the foundation of the city of Yaroslav after begining of the St. Sophia Cathedral construction. The development of the main planning axis of the city — cardo — is shown in the project of the classical reconstruction of Kyiv in the first half of the 19th and in 20th century. The problem of using traditional terms and concepts of ancient urban planning in modern research and urban planning practice is posed. In accordance with the clearly established boundaries of the ancient castrum on the territory of Kyiv Podol, the routes of its main streets can be clearly read. So the cardo (Via Praetoria) goes from north to south, approximately from the intersection of Mezhihirska and Yaroslavska streets (rear-guard gate, Porta Decumana), through the intersection of Kostyantynivska and Horiva Street (Pretoria), to the avant-garde gate (Rorta Praetoria) within the T-intersection of Frolivska Street with Borychiv Tik (one of the oldest streets in the city). From this place, the antique Podilska cardo in medieval times continued with Andriyivsky Uzvoz and the cardo of the new town of Yaroslav (1034), and at the beginning of the 19th century. within the limits of the classicist general plan of the city — along Volodymyrska Street to the south. In this way, we record the steady development of the urban planning tradition in Kyiv from the very beginning of the city's existence. Of course, one can question the legality of the application of the Roman- Byzantine urban planning concepts "cardo" and "decuman" in relation to the modern city. However, the planning structure of the central part of Kyiv within the boundaries of the Dnieper and Lybedi rivers did not develop all at once, but over the course of two thousand years of successive urban development, therefore the basic principles that determined the main features and directions of growth are critically important for understanding the urban design of the city to this day.

Enhancing Urban Development Control Through the Warsaw Natural System: A Case Study in Warsaw, Poland

This study delves into the Warsaw Natural System (WNS) in Warsaw, Poland, and its efficacy in regulating urban development within the city. The paper is divided into three main sections, each addressing a distinct aspect of urban development control. Firstly, the paper examines how WNS effectively manages outward urban expansion through the strategic use of wedge-shaped green spaces. Empirical evidence demonstrates the WNS's success in curbing urban sprawl and maintaining a balanced spatial layout. Secondly, the study investigates how the WNS controls inward urban over-development by employing small urban green spaces interconnected throughout the city. The analysis highlights the effectiveness of this approach in creating fragmented urban development, and preventing excessive density. Thirdly, the paper explores how the WNS contributes to the resilience of urban development by enhancing functional diversity within urban green spaces, and how this diversity enriches the lives of urban residents and sustains the WNS's spatial pattern, offering long-term control over urban space development. In addition to its strengths, the study also identifies existing shortcomings within the WNS and proposes recommendations for future improvement, aiming to enhance its effectiveness in controlling urban development. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable urban planning practices and underscores the importance of adaptable green infrastructure in shaping cities for the future.

Impact of changing urban typologies on residential vegetation and its climate-effects – A case study from Helsinki, Finland

Residential green spaces are an integral part of urban green infrastructure and its role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Various urban typologies and changing planning practices affect the amount and structure of residential greenery, which has a direct impact on climate benefits. While urban green and its climate benefits have received increasing attention, there is still limited knowledge on how changing planning practices and related urban typologies impact residential vegetation and its capacity to deliver climate benefits. This paper aims to address this gap by determining the impact of planning practices on residential vegetation, focussing specifically on climate mitigation and adaptation. With the case study of Helsinki, characterized by a high share of green areas, the paper first examines how construction year and urban density affect the amount and structure of vegetation on residential properties. Second, it estimates the carbon sequestration and summer temperatures in the present-day climate. The paper applies spatial modelling and regression analysis to estimate the impact of construction year on the studied dependent variables, while controlling density via gross floor area of buildings. The study demonstrates that the average amount of residential vegetation, as measured using canopy and vegetation cover, has declined 15 percentage points from the 1970 s to early 2010 s and the canopy to low vegetation ratio has decreased constantly over the periods studied. The decline of the canopy cover in particular has reduced the climate benefits of residential vegetation. The paper highlights the significant impact of gross floor area and planning practices on urban vegetation cover and the climate benefits it provides. It also stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient tree cover and permeable surfaces in cities with progressive climate mitigation agenda throughout the chain of urban planning, construction, and subsequent property management stages.

Susceptibility to Flooding and Urban Flooding in Small Municipalities: Hydrogeomorphological, Land Use and Land Cover Aspects in a Multi-Criterion Analysis

Objective: To investigate areas susceptible to flooding and inundation, testing the hypothesis that the accumulation of surface water does not depend exclusively on fluvial flood pulses. Theoretical Framework: Anthropogenic actions have played a significant role in modifying natural physiography, especially through urbanization and occupation of environmentally sensitive areas. These interventions have a direct impact on the dynamics of natural processes, highlighting the need to understand local hydrogeomorphology in order to ensure efficient territorial planning. Methodology: The research comprised a multi-criteria analysis involving hydrological, geomorphological, land use and occupation data associated with precipitation data for a small municipality. This municipality has urban development in the area of influence of a main river in its catchment area. Results and Discussion: Around 52% of the municipality is urbanized with 95% on slopes ranging from 0 to 23º, upstream of a cumulative flow of 18,000. Rainfall is 1366 mm/year and tends to decrease, although there has been a 62% increase in flooding in recent years. Around 75% of the urbanized area is vulnerable to pluvial flooding, while the rest is subject to both pluvial flooding and fluvial flood pulses. Research Implications: Insights into how the results can influence urban planning practices, extending to the fields of hydrogeomorphology and land use and occupation management. Originality/Value: The methodology is simple and accessible to small municipalities and urban planning entrepreneurs. Its relevance is evidenced by the fact that it improves urban planning, minimizing socio-economic and environmental costs.

Rigidness of planning law causing fragile grounds for crafting planning tools: neoliberal power and ideology immersed on urban space

ABSTRACT This study undertakes an in-depth examination of the planning and privatization process in Istanbul, Turkey, with a particular focus on the interplay of capital, networking, and implicit relationships among various layers of authority and actors. The primary objective is to unravel the intricate dynamics of power relations within these processes and their ramifications for institutional ethics in planning. Specifically, the study investigates how these dynamics contribute to the expansion of building rights and the commodification of urban public land. Moreover, this study delves into the diverse driving forces that perpetuate instability in the planning process, encompassing aspects such as procedural intricacies, resultant outcomes, and broader implications. It recognizes the influence of interventionist governance and the intricate web of power relationships in shaping these dynamics. In essence, this research endeavours to offer a comprehensive understanding of the planning and privatization process in Istanbul, shedding light on the underlying power dynamics and their repercussions for institutional ethics and urban development. By unearthing these insights, it seeks to contribute to inform the development of legal frameworks and policies that promote transparency, ethical conduct, and sustainable urban planning practices.

Drivers of socio-spatial change in Istanbul: Historical and longitudinal analysis of 5 cases from Bakırköy

This article aims to reveal the social and spatial change in Bakırköy through time and to identify the drivers behind this transformation. Bakırköy has been chosen as it hosted the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, leading to its multicultural and layered structure. It has been influenced by the dominant features of each era, shaping socio-economic changes, spatial transformations, and urban planning practices over the historical process. The interaction of these socio-spatial elements within Bakırköy encompasses broad themes such as social differentiation, economic change, and urban governance, thereby presenting case studies to examine the dynamics of urban areas in Istanbul. The research has been conducted at two levels. First, spatial changes were examined through relevant documents, literature, and historical maps. The periods were determined as the state-led development period (1923-1950), liberalization period (1950-1980), neoliberal transformation period (1980-2000), and globalization period (post-2000), with the pre-1923 period being considered separately. Subsequently, five case studies were selected to represent different functional land use at the local level. The first case study involves an area known as the İskender Çelebi Farm in the 17th century, which was chosen to represent the transformation from a food production area to industrial production in the 18th century and has become a mass housing area in the 20th century, now known as the Ataköy districts. The second and third case studies represent the transformation from industrial production areas in the 19th and early 20th centuries to residential, tourism, and shopping areas. The fourth case study focuses on the coastal strip, which was used as a public space for ‘sea baths’ in the 19th century and today exists as luxury housing projects under private ownership. The fifth case study involves an area that served as an airport in the early 20th century and is currently planned for a hospital and green spaces, although it remains a public service.Through these cases, which demonstrate the shift from the productional use of space to consumption, the study seeks to answer the following questions: First, how do demographic and economic changes play a significant role in the differentiation of urban space, and in a related context, what is the local-scale impact of changing policies on the functional change of the selected cases? The findings reveal that industrial investments, supported by transportation investments, choose their locations in the changing/transforming economic order. The decentralization of industry and the privatization or transformation of public investments into consumption-focused urban areas through public-private partnerships have also been observed. The study aims to prove that this change in space lays the groundwork for social differentiation.

Sustainable Space Transformation Design Strategies for Post-Landfill Closure

This study explores strategies for promoting sustainable development in urban public spaces by focusing on transforming and reusing closed landfill sites. Using landscape regeneration theory and the genius loci principle from architectural phenomenology, this research investigates spatial redesign techniques to facilitate the sustainable utilization of these sites. Through the analysis of three representative case studies and the specific application of these strategies to the Zhangjiawan Landfill site in Xining City, Qinghai Province, northwest China, this study elucidates practical approaches for spatial function transformation, constructing community networks, and heritage preservation and cultural continuity. From an urban macro-planning perspective, the post-closure design of the Zhangjiawan Municipal Landfill emphasizes organic linkages with adjacent city parks, fostering community integration and enhancing recreational opportunities for residents. The transformed area facilitates social interaction and cultivates a harmonious community atmosphere by repurposing the site to incorporate community farms, cultural centers, and outdoor sports facilities. Moreover, integrating leisure spaces, cultural exhibitions, and ecological restoration initiatives contributes to ecosystem rehabilitation while providing residents with leisure, social engagement, and cultural enrichment spaces. This research demonstrates how effective spatial transformation can promote environmental education, heritage preservation, and urban functionality in redeveloping closed landfill sites. The theoretical insights and practical design strategies presented contribute to advancing sustainable practices in urban planning and public space utilization.

Mono-Functional Housing and Changing Concepts in Kharkiv Residential Architecture during the Capital Period

In the 1920s - 1930s in Kharkiv, at that time the capital of Soviet Ukraine, two main programs of city development were implemented - the creation of a new metropolitan center and the development of the industrial complex. Within the framework of these programs there was an evolution of Kharkiv’s housing infrastructure, which developed largely in connection with the leading Western social concepts of architectural and urban planning practice: garden city, house-commune, residential combine and socialist city. However, in addition to these concepts that replaced each other, there was also a parallel design of “mono-functional” housing, which is an integral, important and significant component of the avant-garde architecture of Kharkiv. It was built both within the framework of the program of the creation of the capital center and within the framework of the program of development of the industrial complex. It is unfair that such housing, as a rule, is in the shadow of more vivid and radical typological avant-garde solutions and is insufficiently described. The method of systematization and analysis of literary and documentary sources was applied. In the context of Russian aggression and its unfolding of a full-scale war against Ukraine since 24 February 2022, the architectural heritage of Kharkiv, as well as the heritage of other cities of Ukraine, is under constant threat of destruction. In this regard, the documentation and introduction of undeservedly forgotten “mono-functional” residential buildings into the international scientific community is extremely relevant. The article begins to document mono-functional housing built in the 1920s-1930s, and discusses in detail several examples: Chervonyi Knygar, Slovo and Komunar.

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL: TRANSFORMING THE GOMTI RIVER INTO A MODEL OF RIVER HEALTH

Rampant urbanization and industrialization along the river Gomti banks have led to severe degradation of its water quality and ecological health. The disposal of industrial and domestic sewage directly into the river, encroachment upon its floodplains for urban development, and ineffective waste management practices pose significant threats to its well-being. This paper examines the deteriorating condition of the Gomti River and proposes strategies for revitalizing it into a healthy river ecosystem. Drawing parallels with the Bogota River restoration project, the study identifies key challenges and opportunities for enhancing the health of the Gomti River. It suggests a holistic approach to wastewater management, including the establishment of treatment plants and the implementation of integrated waste management strategies. Additionally, the paper evaluates the impact of riverfront development projects on the rivers ecological integrity and underscores the need for sustainable urban planning practices to mitigate further degradation. By analyzing case studies and best practices from around the world, the paper provides insights into effective river restoration strategies and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and stakeholder collaboration in achieving long-term sustainability goals for the Gomti River

Advancing arboriculture through human and tree ecology

This paper explores the significance of ecosystem functions in maintaining the health and balance of ecological systems, particularly in the context of planning, managing, and maintaining trees in landscape settings. It emphasises the multifaceted relationship between humans and trees, encompassing cultural, ecological, economic, and emotional connections, and underscores the value of traditional ecological knowledge alongside empirical science. By combining these two ways of knowing, along with social science insights into human health and well-being, future landscapes can be crafted to be sustainable, diverse, and functional. As urbanisation continues to shape landscapes globally, urban planners face the challenge of managing rapidly changing environments. Urban forestry and arboriculture have emerged to address these challenges, aiming to enhance environmental quality and human well-being. The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has gained traction, recognising the importance of integrating natural systems into urban planning to address environmental challenges while preserving functional ecosystems. This paper advocates for an enhanced understanding of tree and human ecology to navigate the complex relations between trees, people, and their environments. It calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and education to inform policy, assess environmental impacts, and widen approaches to ecosystem management. By monitoring ecosystem health and collaborating across disciplines, arboriculturists and urban foresters can shape resilient practices for tree conservation and sustainable urban development. In conclusion, integrating tree ecology into urban planning and management practices is essential for ensuring the health, resilience, and sustainability of tree populations and the ecosystems they inhabit. By embracing a holistic understanding of trees and their environments, professionals can contribute to shaping future landscapes that support both human well-being and biodiversity.