The Nature-based Solutions for architecture and the city

Conference 2023 The nbs for architecture and the city

Manifesto

The conference is dedicated to NBS: “such solutions bring nature, characteristics and natural processes increasingly diversified in cities, through locally adapted interventions, efficient in terms of resources and systems” (Cardinali et al., 2021).

For years, the European Commission has been investing increasing economic resources in research and policies for NBS, having demonstrated countless environmental benefits from their use, including their contribution to climate change adaptation. The EC itself, however, notes an important obstacle to their spread: “NBS has the potential to stimulate local economies and create business opportunities. However, many public authorities report a range of difficulties in using public procurement to implement NBS projects. Greater political coherence and transversality in the definition of priorities at EU level, as well as greater planning” (Castellari et al., 2021).

The focus of the event is on the functional and performance aspects of vegetation and vegetated technological systems, with reference to green roofs and vegetated facades, as well as to the vegetated and draining systems that can be used on the ground. Functional and performance aspects include a wide range of effects, including shading factor, “heat island” effect attenuation, thermal performance, water outflow control, air quality improvement, the increase of biodiversity, but also many functions, benefits and services rendered by the plant species used (which do not stimulate allergies, resist thermal and water stress, require little maintenance, are not invasive allocton, etc.).

The objectives of the event are: (1) to disseminate studies that contribute to increasing the knowledge and technical culture of NBS; (2) to bring together in debate the interdisciplinary skills that interface in the research of NBS.