Green, Grey & Brownfields

ENVIRONMENT

Recorded by Sofie Pelsmakers, images by Essi Nisonen

KEY READINGS

• The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience, Maathai Wangari, Lantern Books

• Sustainable Brownfield Development: Building a Sustainable Future on Sites of our Polluting Past, De Sousa Christopher, Ryerson University

• The Environmental Design Pocketbook, by Pelsmakers, S., RIBA

• Designing for the Climate Emergency, a Guide for Architecture Students by Pelsmakers, S., Donovan, E., Hoggard, A., Kozminska, U., RIBA

• What is Bioremediation: Types and Examples of it - https://www.earthreminder.com/what-is-bioremediation-types-and-examples/

• From DenCity: A methodology to design cost-optimal zero-energy lightweight construction for roof stacking, Amer, M.

INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES

• Vauban, Freiburg, Germany

• GrowNYC Teaching Garden, Governors Island, New York City, USA

• Alusta Pavilion, Suomi Koivisto Architects, Helsinki, Finland

GREEN, GREY & BROWNFIELDS

Carefully considering land-use and where to develop is a crucial aspect of a climate emergency design approach as it affects biodiversity, permeability of land, air pollution and accessibility and how much infrastructure is needed. Greenfields are essential for biodiversity and have little existing infrastructure and should be avoided for development as they often have better uses. Instead greyfields and brownfields can be restored because they have infrastructures and often existing buildings that can be reused. They are often contaminated so ecological site surveys and bio-remediation are crucial before development. Greyfield development often contributes to urban sprawl, where low density, residential only development ‘locks-in’ car reliance, leading to energy use, pollution alongside habitat loss and fragmentation. Instead you should create mixed-use neighbourhoods (e.g. 15 minute city principles), and strategies such as reuse and adapting existing structures, infill development, backyard filling, attic exchange and roof stacking to help densify cities while preserving green areas. Sustainable densities, walkable neighbourhoods, and shared resources can counteract the negative aspects of densification. For your site selection, ecological value (and protecting existing ecology) and future impact on the community, air, water, and soil should be assessed and key drivers in your site selection and your project design.