Nature-based solutions and buildings: A review of the literature and an agenda for renaturing our cities one building at a time

Kandel, Suzanne; Frantzeskaki, Niki

doi:10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100106

Nature-Based Solutions

2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100106

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Nature-based solutions and buildings: A review of the literature and an agenda for renaturing our cities one building at a time

Suzanne Kandel,

Niki Frantzeskaki

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2024

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Cited by 3 publications

References 137 publications

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Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Sommese

2024

Buildings

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Global environmental and health issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the weaknesses of current urban systems, including the poor availability and accessibility of green and public spaces in cities. Nature-based Solutions are configured as promising solutions to increase the resilience and health of the built environment by addressing climate and pandemic issues, promoting the psycho-physical well-being of users and proposing solutions for the protection of the environment and ecosystems. Following a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA methodology, this study aims to provide a taxonomic framework for Nature-based Solutions for the built environment that is applicable to the urban and building scales, highlighting key benefits in addressing pandemic and climate challenges and achieving urban resilience. This framework proposes a holistic and multifunctional approach that will prove to be a useful tool for researchers and policy makers to incorporate greening strategies into urban regeneration and redevelopment processes. The application of Nature-based Solutions still seems to be limited. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of this issue among citizens and policy makers and to promote close co-operation between the different actors in territorial decision-making processes.

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Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Sommese

2024

Buildings

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Sustainability Assessments of Living Walls in the Mediterranean Area

Barreca,

Cardinali,

Bruno

et al. 2024

Buildings

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The evaluation of the environmental impacts of a living wall (LW) system cannot leave out the effects on the buildings’ sustainability during its life cycle. Consequently, to consider the embodied impacts of all the components, an LCA of the whole system is recommended. Therefore, this paper was targeted to evaluate the environmental performances of four LW solutions considering a combination of energy performances and system LCA. In the first step, the yearly energy consumption of a reference building equipped with LWs was determined through simulations carried out in the EnergyPlus environment. Subsequently, the LCA completed the evaluation of the environmental impact of the different building configurations. To quantify the effects related to the implementation of LWs, the results were compared to those obtained for the reference building without vegetation. The analyses refer to a real university’s four-floor housing located in the city of Reggio Calabria (38°07′21.4″ N 15°39′45.2″ E), which is currently under construction. The results confirm the benefits achievable through the LW integration, measuring both energy savings and the increase in the hours with indoor temperature within the well-being zone. At an annual level, the best LW solution produces 24% of energy saving and LCA highlights a limitation of 2.1 × 105 kg of CO2eq when compared to the reference case. These data confirm the effectiveness of implementing LWs as a reliable intervention to enhance building environmental impact, especially for edifices requiring renovation.

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Renaturing for Urban Wellbeing: A Socioecological Perspective on Green Space Quality, Accessibility, and Inclusivity

Russo

2024

Sustainability

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This perspective examines renaturing cities, the strategic reintroduction of nature, as a potential solution to the negative health impacts of rapid urbanisation. By utilising nature-based solutions to maximise ecosystem services and reintegrate human and natural systems, renaturing offers access to high-quality, accessible green spaces. Studies suggest such access is associated with reduced depression, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease risk. Renaturing also presents opportunities for physical activity and daily exposure to nature, which can further enhance well-being and happiness. However, challenges include ensuring equitable access to these spaces and avoiding gentrification. To achieve this equitable distribution and ensure the project truly benefits the community, a bottom-up approach involving residents in the planning process is crucial. Longitudinal studies and evidence from design projects are necessary to understand which types of nature-based solutions can most effectively improve wellbeing and happiness for disadvantaged groups. Further research is needed to better refine the renaturing concept, as it is sometimes used interchangeably with other similar but distinct approaches.

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Nature-based solutions and buildings: A review of the literature and an agenda for renaturing our cities one building at a time

Cited by 3 publications

References 137 publications

Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Sustainability Assessments of Living Walls in the Mediterranean Area

Renaturing for Urban Wellbeing: A Socioecological Perspective on Green Space Quality, Accessibility, and Inclusivity

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