Potentials of Nature-Based Solutions for Improvement of Resilience and Landscape Valorization in Urban Environments

Abstract

The relevance of this research topic is a reflection of a need to redefine the concept of nature in architecture and urbanism so as to acknowledge the current environmental and climate issues and the changing position of nature in contemporary culture. Today, the built environment puts very strong pressure on the natural environment, causing climate change and degradation of ecosystems to evolve as a consequence of such tendencies. Keeping in mind that architecture and urbanism produce the environment for humans and at the same time study the relationship between people and their environment, both built and natural, we will argue that architectural and urban design are at the very core of the problem between humans, the natural and built environment, and the changes that occur in these relations. Furthermore, recent decades have seen a constant emphasis on the importance of nature, especially natural elements and principles, within design in order to achieve environmental and cultural sustainability, i.e., harmony between architecture, nature and users. However, the practice of application of these methods and knowledge in architecture still hasn’t been developed. The focus of this paper is the implementation of nature-based solutions in the built environment, particularly from the aspects of improving resilience, well-being and landscape valorization. This paper deals with the identification of the key potentials and a range of benefits of ecosystem services, but also of the crucial barriers and limitations impeding the implementation of this concept in contemporary cities.