Historical Development of Urban Green Infrastructure and Possibilities of its Implementation in the Republic of Croatia

Research has been motivated by a wide range of concepts of the term urban green infrastructure. As the aim was to indicate a clear basis for the term, an investigation of its development was a necessity, not only in the European, but also in a broader context. Although green infrastructure is included in the 21st century policies of protection and development of EU landscapes, its foundations can be traced back to the models of ideal Renaissance towns and urbanist concepts mainly from the 19th and 20th century. In these historical periods used concepts meant urban landscapes as systems, a part of the environment, as seen in green corridors, green belts, green wedges, green networks and through the perception of urban green systems. As a modern concept the urban green infrastructure has been upgraded with developed roles, extending functions, scopes and scales from previous historical models. In that sense it maintains its social role of improving the quality of life in towns, while at the same time defining town texture with its urban morphological significance. At the same time it also develops ecological values and extends its scale to nonurban local, regional and international contexts. Despite its benefits, spatial planning documents in the Republic of Croatia still lack measures and actions which would recognise the true benefit of green infrastructure in spatial development

Cultural landscape evaluation and possibilities for future development – a case study of the island of Krk (Croatia)

Agricultural landscapes that resulted from many centuries of traditional agricultural cultivation are an important part of the cultural heritage in the European Mediterranean areas. Since a systematic study in the Republic of Croatia aimed at inventarisation and protection of cultural landscapes has not been carried out yet, the main purpose of this paper was to, based on a case study that took place on the island of Krk, show the method of agricultural landscape evaluation and possibilities for future development and protection of outstanding agricultural landscapes. The evaluation of all 12 identified agricultural landscape types was conducted and six of them were singled out as outstanding cultural landscapes. Possible structural changes of those landscapes were considered and a proposal for a strategy of the preservation of the valuable landscape heritage on the island of Krk has been formulated. It was concluded that for field landscapes, the preservation is possible through agricultural production modernization. Those outstanding agricultural landscapes that are not profitable, but have a great cultural and historical value, should be maintained through regular procedures for cultural monuments with 100% subsidy

Ecological principles in urban landscape design

Principi ekološkog planiranja i projektiranja gradskih krajobraza su mnogobrojni. Ipak, oni nisu sistematizirani i sustavno provođeni u praksi uređenja gradskih krajobraza. Iz tog razloga, konvencionalni pristupi planiranju i oblikovanju gradskih krajobraza mogu biti izrazito mnogo ili vrlo malo oslonjeni na principe ekološkog oblikovanja. Samim time, korišteni su nesistematično, parcijalno i stihijski, ili se uopće ne primjenjuju u domaćim praksama. U radu je predstavljen sistematičan prikaz krajobraznih principa primjenjivih u uređenju urbanih sredina koji mogu pridonijeti ekološkoj održivosti gradova. Oni su kategorizirani i opisani, a njihova je selekcija bazirana na referentnim primjerima i radovima u području krajobrazne ekologije i krajobrazne arhitekture. Krajnji rezultat rada je izrada "check-liste" primjenjive za analizu projekta krajobrazne arhitekture i uređenja gradskih krajobraza prema kriteriju ekološke održivosti.There are many principles of ecological design and planning of urban landscapes. However, they have not been systematized, applied and systematically implemented in the practice of urban planning and development. For this reason, conventional approaches to the planning and design of urban landscapes can be very much or very little based on the principles of ecological design. As a result, they were used unsystematically, partially and spontaneously, or they are not applied at all in national practices. The paper presents a systematic presentation of landscape principles applicable in the design of urban environments that can contribute to the ecological sustainability of cities. They are categorized and described, and their selection is based on reference examples and works in the field of landscape ecology and landscape architecture. The end result of the work is the creation of a "check-list" applicable to the analysis of landscape architecture projects and the arrangement of urban landscapes according to the criterion of ecological sustainability

THE TYPOLOGY OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF DUBROVAČKO PRIMORJE AS A BASIS FOR DIRECTING DEVELOPMENT

Napuštanje seoskih sredina Dubrovačkog primorja tijekom posljednjih pedesetak godina odrazilo se na njegove prostorne karakteristike i identitet, obilježavajući ga kao predio s izraženim procesom zapuštanja poljoprivrednih površina. Cilj rada je, na osnovi inventarizacije i analize prostora Dubrovačkog primorja, odrediti tipove krajobraza, te utvrditi potencijalne prostorne kvalitete. Podjela krajobraza na prirodne (obala, krajobraz kamenjara, krajobraz makije) i kulturne (naselja, poljoprivredni kulturni krajobraz) proizlazi iz prirodnih i društvenih obilježja prostora. Istraživanje je pokazalo zanimljive karakteristike samoga poljoprivrednog krajobraza kao izražajnog prostornog elementa. Njegova podjela izvršena je s obzirom na formu, koja je rezultat namjene i prirodnih obilježja prostora. Tako su izdvojeni krajobrazi polja s raznolikom pravilnom i nepravilnom parcelacijom, krajobrazi suhozida organskih i poligonalnih formi, te krajobrazi terasa različito dimenzioniranih omjera. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da se na ovom prostoru nalaze zanimljivi i raznoliki tipovi krajobraza, koji svojom artikulacijom čine zanimljivu prostornu sliku s izražajnom dinamikom. Osim prirodnih, i kulturni krajobrazi se mogu podijeliti na one koji imaju tendenciju širenja i na one koji nestaju kao posljedica trenutnih ekonomsko-gospodarskih trendova. Identifi kacija tipova krajobraza može biti preduvjet za odredbu razvojnih kriterija prostora u budućnosti.Abandonment of rural areas in Dubrovačko Primorje in the last 50 years resulted with changes of its spatial characteristics and identity. This process defi ned this place as a virtually derelict area. The main goal of this work is to determine landscape types based upon survey and spatial analyses. They can be helpful in a process of determination of spatial qualities. Landscape division was made according to the natural and anthropogenic features of this area. Therefore, landscape was divided on natural (coast, karst terrain and landscapes of the macchia) and cultural (settlement and agriculture) landscapes. Working methods consisted of several research stages. The fi rst stage comprised a review of relevant literature concerning natural and sociological features of the explored area. Working methods of prof. dr. Marušič were inspiration for evolvement of this research [16]. The next stage of research was the fi eld work by means of observation method which resulted in detailed photo documentation, showing different types of the agricultural landscapes. Indoor work consisted of the orthophoto production, which was a base for further exploration. Consequently, detailed map of the land use, as well as an agricultural map of the area was made according to the structural husbandry character. Digital mapping of the thematical maps in GIS – Arc View software program, produced a database of social and natural elements of the area. Overlapping of all these maps helped in determination of causal processes. Comparison of these outcomes with terrain photo documentation led to the research results and fi nal conclusions. This research showed interesting structural features of agricultural landscapes. Its division was made according to its form which emerged from the land use and its natural character. Consequently, agricultural landscapes are divided into fi elds (with regular parcels and those with irregular land division), dry stone walls with organic and polygonal forms and terraced landscapes in different scales and dimensions. Results pointed to many interesting and various landscape types which are articulating with different spatial elements, thus making an overall landscape picture more complex. This spatial variety is giving an identity to this space which is based upon tense spatial dynamics. Exploration has also shown developing tendencies of different landscape types. Future development will certainly cause completely different landscape scenery, therefore there remains a legitimate reason for controlled development. Main developing strategies are based on tourism and agricultural development. Since tourism is a more aggressive element in this system its further development has to be better supervised in order to achieve their balanced coexistence. Tourism and its spatial distribution must be more dispersed, as it is currently concentrated alongside a particularly sensitive natural coastal area

Die Wahrnehmung von Grundmerkmalen öffentlicher Plätze in Wohnsiedlungen. Fallbeispiele Zagreb und Velika Gorica

Otvoreni prostori višestambene izgradnje neposredan su prostor boravka stanovnika stambenih naselja u vanjskom prostoru. Kako su oni često predmet nezadovoljstva i kritika samih stanovnika, ali i stručnjaka koji sudjeluju u njihovu oblikovanju i planiranju, ovim se radom pokušalo utvrditi krajobrazne vrijednosti i parametre koji djeluju na njihovu privlačnost. S tim ciljem provedeno je istraživanje na osnovi promatranja te anketa s pridruženom ljestvicom semantičkoga diferencijala. Postupak semantičkoga diferencijala temelji se na procjeni vizualno-estetskih kvaliteta prostora kojima se prati doživljavanje i emotivne reakcije ispitanika. Analizom dobivenih rezultata utvrđeni su neki elementi poželjnih prostornih i strukturnih odnosa koji djeluju na kvalitetu doživljavanja otvorenih prostora višestambene izgradnje, a koji mogu poslužiti kao smjernice i kriteriji u njihovu oblikovanju.Open spaces associated with the architecture in housing settlements are spaces of stay and leisure used by the dwellers living outside of the areas of residential complexes. Since these are quite often the subject of dissatisfaction and criticism of its residents and are also being exposed to critiques written by experts taking part in the process of their design and planning, this paper represents an attempt at identifying the landscape values, and the parameters affecting its environmental attractiveness. The research is carried out striving for a goal based upon observation, as well as on an opinion survey measuring people’s attitudes with the pertaining scale of semantic differential (SD). The procedure of a semantic differential is based on visual and aesthetic qualities of the space, in terms of monitoring experience, perception and emotional reactions of the interviewed respondents. Data processing obtained in such a way has established some of the elements of desirable spatial and structural relations which influence the quality of experiencing open spaces associated with housing architecture, which can be implemented as guidelines and criteria in their design.Öffentliche Plätze in Wohnsiedlungen stellen für die Anwohner das unmittelbare Umfeld dar, innerhalb dessen sie sich unter freiem Himmel aufhalten und bewegen können. Da sie oft Anlass geben zur Unzufriedenheit und Kritik sowohl von Anwohnern als auch von Experten, in deren Aufgabenbereich die Planung und Gestaltung öffentlicher Räume fällt, wollte man mit dieser Studie versuchen, den landschaftlichen Wert dieser Plätze sowie die ihre Anziehungskraft bestimmenden Parameter zu ermitteln. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Beobachtungsuntersuchung durchgeführt sowie eine Umfrage mit beigefügtem semantischem Differential. Das Verfahren des semantischen Differentials gründet auf einer Einschätzung der visuellästhetischen Eigenschaften eines „öffentlichen” Raumes, anhand deren die Wahrnehmung und gefühlsmäßigen Reaktionen seitens der Probanden mitverfolgt werden. Durch Bearbeitung und Vergleich der gewonnenen Angaben wurden bestimmte Eigenschaften ermittelt, die in struktureller und gestalterischer Hinsicht in öffentlichen Räumen vertreten sein sollten, da sie Einfluss haben auf die Art und Weise, wie öffentliche Plätze in Wohnsiedlungen wahrgenommen werden, und daher als Richtlinien und Kriterien bei der öffentlichen Raumgestaltung dienen können

Kulturlandschaft und Gesetzgebung. Die Verhältnisse in Kroatien

Hrvatska baštini mnoge i raznolike kulturne krajobraze, no svijest o njihovu postojanju vrlo je niska. Krajobrazi su prepušteni razvojnoj sukcesiji, gubljenju identiteta, neprikladnoj sanaciji i degradaciji. Pridruživanje Europskoj uniji obvezuje nas da na tom području uspostavimo učinkovitu provedbu i mjere njihove zaštite. Analizirana su važnija europska i domaća istraživanja o temi kulturnih krajobraza te relevantni zakonski dokumenti i međunarodne konvencije. Usporedbom stranih i domaćih iskustava analizira se efikasnost naših zakonskih propisa s područja kulturnih krajobraza i krajobraza općenito, primjena njihove zaštite te razina svijesti o njihovim vrijednostima. Upozorava se na nepostojanje temeljnoga dokumenta koji bi se bavio sustavnom zaštitom krajobraza uopće, unatoč potpisivanju Konvencije o europskim krajobrazima. Smjernice za očuvanje kulturnih krajobraza, koje su dane u više nacionalnih strategija i zakonskih akata u zadnjem desetljeću, nisu zaživjele niti su se primjenjivale. U odnosu na Hrvatsku, većina europskih zemalja ima zavidno razvijenije sustave zaštite kulturnih krajobraza. U mnogim državama izrađeni su nacionalni i regionalni atlasi kulturnih krajobraza, prisutan je snažan trend uključivanja korisnika prostora u njihovo upravljanje.Croatia has many diverse cultural landscapes, but awareness of their existence is very low. Landscapes are given over to developmental succession, loss of identity, unsuitable repair and degradation. Joining the European Union commits us to establishing effective implementation and measures of protection. Major European and local research on the topic of cultural landscapes was analyzed in the paper, as well as relevant legal documents and international conventions. By comparing foreign and local experience, the effectiveness of our legislation in the field of cultural landscape and landscape in general, the use of their protection, and awareness of their values is analyzed. The analysis indicates an absence of a basic document that would deal with the systematic protection of landscape overall, despite the signing of the Convention on European Landscapes. Guidelines for the preservation of cultural landscapes, which were outlined in several national strategies and legal acts in the last decade, have not taken hold nor have they been applied. In comparison to Croatia, most European countries have enviously more developed systems of protection of cultural landscapes. National and regional atlases of cultural landscapes have been made, and there is a strong trend of user involvement in the management of the areas.Kroatien hat ein großes Spektrum verschiedenartiger Kulturlandschaften vorzuweisen, doch ist diese Tatsache im öffentlichen Bewusstsein kaum präsent. Leider sind besagte Landschaften dem willkürlichen Ablauf verschiedenster Eingriffe überlassen und zeichnen sich durch Identitätsverlust, unangemessene Sanierungsformen und Degradierung aus. Der bevorstehende EU-Beitritt Kroatiens verpflichtet jedoch zu entsprechenden Schutzmaßnahmen und ihrer effizienten Umsetzung. Die Verfasser analysieren in ihrem Text verschiedene relevante Forschungsarbeiten zum Thema Kulturlandschaften, die in Europa und Kroatien durchgeführt wurden, sowie relevante Rechtsgrundlagen und internationale Konventionen. Anhand eines Vergleichs inund ausländischer Erfahrungen wird die Effizienz kroatischer Rechtsvorschriften im Bereich des Naturraums generell sowie bezüglich Kulturlandschaften im Besonderen geprüft; Schutzmaßnahmen und ihre Umsetzung werden analysiert und ihr Stellenwert im öffentlichen Bewusstsein nachvollzogen. Die Autoren verweisen darauf, dass – trotz der Unterzeichnung der Europäischen Landschaftskonvention – die Erstellung eines Grundsatzdokuments, das sich systematisch mit dem Landschaftsschutz befasste, in Kroatien immer noch aussteht. Richtlinien zum Schutz von Kulturlandschaften, die im Laufe des vergangenen Jahrzehnts in verschiedenen nationalstrategischen und rechtlichen Dokumenten verankert wurden, werden bislang immer noch nicht befolgt. Im Unterschied zu Kroatien verfügen die meisten europäischen Staaten über sehr gut ausgestattete Landschaftsschutzprogramme. In vielen Ländern wurden nationale und regionale Kartenwerke mit Übersichten einheimischer Kulturlandschaften erarbeitet; auch ist ein starker Trend zu beobachten, die Nutzer selbst der Landschaften in die Verwaltung des Naturraums einzubinden

Krajobrazna analiza prostora: mogućnosti prenamjene klaonice u Zagrebu

The economic changes of the beginning of the 21st century greatly influenced urban planning and lifestyle, resulting in the creation of an abandoned industrial heritage, while the expansive growth of cities caused their inappropriate location in the center of cities. As a response to such spatial problems, there are tendencies to consider the role of the post-industrial landscape in city planning, industrial heritage as a resource and an integral part of collective and historical identity. Therefore the work provides an insight into the historical aspect, development, significance and current trends in the world and in Croatia regarding validation of industrial landscapes. Using the example of the City Slaughterhouse and Cattle Market in Zagreb, the work tries to point out the importance and potential of such areas, which through revitalization can influence the urban regeneration of a neighborhood or city. On the basis of research and comparative analysis of relevant examples, as well as a field visit and inventory of the location in question, the revitalization of the City Slaughterhouse and Livestock Market in Zagreb is proposed, and it is concluded that by repurposing the complex, it is possible to create a new gravitational point of the city with a recognizable identity with a significant positive impact on the environmental condition of the location. The case in question tries to present a model of revitalization where special emphasis is placed on landscape values and values of open space as a cultural, social and ecological phenomenon.Gospodarske i ekonomske promjene s početka 21. stoljeća uvelike su utjecale na urbanizam i način života rezultirajući stvaranjem napuštenog industrijskog nasljeđa dok je ekspanzivan rast gradova uzrokovao njihov neprikladni smještaj u središtu gradova. Kao odgovor na takve prostorne probleme javljaju se tendencije razmatranja uloge postindustrijskog krajobraza u planiranju grada, industrijskog nasljeđa kao baštine i resursa te sastavnog dijela kolektivnog i povijesnog identiteta. Stoga rad daje uvid u povijesni aspekt, razvoj, značaj te trenutne trendove u svijetu i Hrvatskoj po pitanju vrednovanja industrijskih krajobraza. Na primjeru Gradske klaonice i stočne tržnice u Zagrebu radom se nastoji ukazati na važnost i potencijale takvih područja koji revitalizacijom mogu utjecati na urbanu regeneraciju četvrti ili grada. Temeljem istraživanja i komparativne analize relevantnih primjera te terenskog obilaska i inventarizacije predmetne lokacije predlaže se revitalizacija Gradske klaonice i stočne tržnice u Zagrebu te se zaključuje kako je prenamjenom kompleksa moguće stvoriti novu gravitacijsku točku grada prepoznatljivog identiteta s značajnim pozitivnim utjecajem na ekološko stanje okoliša lokacije. Predmetnim slučajem nastoji se prikazati model revitalizacije gdje je posebni naglasak stavljen na krajobrazne vrijednosti i vrijednosti otvorenog prostora kao kulturnog, društvenog i ekološkog fenomena

Implementation of Green Infrastructure Principles in Dubrovnik, Croatia to Minimize Climate Change Problems

Increasing development pressure on the Croatian coastal zone has lead to environmental degradation due to a lack of appropriate strategies and policies in promoting well-planned and managed urban areas. Research has shown that six coastal cities have been facing problems connected with climate change (storm waters, floods, soil erosion and urban heath). Key elements of urban sustainability, in spatial context, are based on a balanced relationship between built and open urban spaces on one hand and connectivity between urban open spaces and between such spaces and surrounding landscapes at the regional scale (principles of urban green infrastructure). Detailed research based on comparative analysis shows that ecological problems have to do with unbalanced urban morphology in Dubrovnik (disappearance of green areas as absorptive surfaces and loss of connectivity). The findings offer a possible conceptual solution on applying the principles of green infrastructure, where the preservation and linkage of ecologically valuable green areas within urban fabric is crucial. These areas are planned as multifunctional spaces; they are important for biodiversity, urban morphology, and urban social life, as well as for mitigating the consequences of climate change

Approach to the setting of a unique typology of urban landscapes

U ovome radu definiraju se osnovni tipovi gradskih krajobraza te se predlaže njihova tipologija koja uključuje raščlambu krajobraznih tipova unutar različitih mjerila sagledavanja. Predložena tipologija primjerena je za korištenje u okviru prostorno planske dokumentacije koja se odnosi na urbana područja (prvenstveno Generalni urbanistički plan i Urbanistički plan uređenja) te druge stručne i istraživačke studije i projekte koji sagledavaju gradske krajobraze kao jedinstven i povezan kompleks površina. Posebice se smatra prikladnom za potrebe izrade dokumenta Zelene infrastrukture - ZI (eng. green infrastructure - GI) na lokalnoj razini – Studija zelene infrastrukture, Plan zelene infrastrukture. Metodologija rada je uključila pregled, analizu i sistematizaciju do sada korištenih tipologija gradskih krajobraza te strukturiranje kumulativne baze tipova gradskih krajobraza i njihovih definicija. Predložena tipologija bazira se na funkcijama gradskih krajobraza. Dodatno, u radu su determinirani i definirani tipovi gradskih krajobraza koji mogu pridonijeti poboljšanju ekoloških dobrobiti urbanih područja.In this paper, the basic types of urban landscapes are defined and their typology is proposed, which includes analysis of landscape types within different scales of observation. The proposed typology is suitable for use in spatial planning documentation related to urban areas (primarily the General urbanistic plan and Urban development plan) and other expert and research studies and projects that consider urban landscapes as a unique and connected complex of land use. It is especially considered suitable for creating Green Infrastructure (GI) documents at the local level - Green Infrastructure Study, Green Infrastructure Plan. The methodology of the research included the review, analysis and systematization of urban landscape typologies used so far and the structuring of a cumulative database of urban landscape types and their definitions. The suggested typology is based on the functions of urban landscapes. In addition, the paper determined and defined the types of urban landscapes that can contribute to the improvement of the ecological benefits of urban areas