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15.07.2021.

A green-blue corridor and a sustainable forest for Valencia

In June 2021, Valencia completed the last two nature-based solutions demonstration projects: a green-blue corridor and a sustainable forest.

GREEN-BLUE CORRIDOR

This green-blue corridor, located in Carrer del Foc and Plaça Regino Mas, will improve thermal comfort, water management and quality, increase biodiversity (of species and plant strata), capture CO2 and help increase perception safety in the neighborhood thanks to adapted furniture and lighting.

The main objective of the green-blue corridor is to create a pedestrian route that allows the link between the large green spaces of the territorial scale and the interior urban living areas through the reintroduction of vegetation and water collection systems in the district.


A living laboratory is proposed in which to test different solutions based on nature, including bio-retention areas (biocells), a retention basin (plaza), and drainage systems (retention or filtering) under the parking areas by using different permeable pavements that filter and collect the water coming from the road.

The Regino Mas square has been transformed into a safe space, with shade (vegetation and pergola), and adapted furniture. In addition, the pedestrian connection with the surrounding streets has been allowed, encouraging their passage through. The square is in itself an element of water management, since it collects the water in its lowest part, which is a soft area with vegetation.

THE SUSTAINABLE FOREST

The sustainable forest allows accessible passage and pedestrian connection to Andreu Alfaro street and generates a new access to Benicalap Park.

Perimeter trees have been included to recover the historical perspective of the old Burjasot road, in front of the historic farmhouses since we are in a protected environment (BIC environment). The design concept is based on three elements: topography, vegetation and water.

The sustainable forest allows accessible passage and pedestrian connection to Andreu Alfaro street and generates a new access to Benicalap Park. Perimeter trees have been included to recover the historical perspective of the old Burjasot road, in front of the historic farmhouses since we are in a protected environment (BIC environment). The design concept is based on three elements: topography, vegetation and water.

A topography is generated to manage stormwater during precipitation events. The topography has been studied so that the runoff directs the water towards the different sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). The proposed SUDS typologies that have been used are mainly bio-retention systems such as the three infiltration basins connected in cascade; perimeter filter ditches and connection between basins; and permeable pavements (access area to Benicalap Park and road).

It is relevant to mention that for the construction of the sustainable forest, no soil extraction has been done, only earthworks, thus minimizing the environmental impact.

The improvement of biodiversity has been achieved by creating different strata of vegetation (trees, shrubs and terrestrial plants), promoting the diversity of species and creating spaces for animal habitat. The sustainable management of vegetation has been taken into account (pruning, cleaning, irrigation). In order to improve thermal comfort in the area, tall vegetation has been considered to reduce exposure to direct solar radiation.