The Greenkeys projects

The problem of abandoned and devalued urban areas is common among many European cities. The environmental, economic and social decline, which these areas often entail, requires rapid reconsideration and improvements as the lowering of the quality of life may not only spill over to adjacent neighbourhoods, but also the area itself does not need to be relinquished.

The cities are facing difficulties in finding an adequate solution to the main problem of how to apply methods of sustainable rehabilitation to redevelop and enhance the areas in the long term.

The European Commission has started the EU Community Initiative INTERREG III B CADSES (2005-2008), which focuses on increasing the sustainability of cities by initialising the endowment of green spaces. By means of that, local residents and medium-sized enterprises would benefit immediately, but the scientific and practical experiences gained during the projects are equally important as they will promote transnational cooperation in Europe and bring about further projects.

The key question posed by the GreenKeys project is: What are the tools and methods necessary for increasing the sustainability of urban areas by adding green spaces, given the fact that ecological, social and economical conditions are often mutually dependent?
Greenkeys focuses on the improvement of urban green spaces as a step towards more sustainable cities. The three main objectives are

  1. to provide incentives for structural changes in cities by offering opportunities for the enhancement of green spaces. Its 12 partner cities will, together with local stakeholders, develop a strategic approach for the pilot projects to create new or upgrade existing green areas to achieve more accessibility, social and recreational values and ecological efficiency. By the involvement of local activists, the political attention to the benefits of green spaces to urban environments will be increased. GreenKeys will support the implementation/evaluation of pilot projects in order
  2. to develop a “Pool of Green Strategies” (instruments, methods, concepts and good examples) based on the experiences being made to meet the demands of future needs and
  3. to use the synergies to promote the transfer of knowledge by a transnational network and, thus, foster the exchange of the particular national experiences.

In pursuing these goals, GreenKeys brings together 12 cities in 7 countries, 8 scientific supporters, external experts, design studios and NGOs, which participate through their own networks.

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Budapest - mátyás tér
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Improvement of residential areas with green spaces

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Type of green space Area   Users
open space with small green parts 0,5 ha   Residents of the Magdolna- quarter

 
Location and site characteristics

Mátyás tér (in English: Mathias square) is situated in the geographical centre of the district Józsefváros, one of the poorest and most deprived areas of Budapest. The square has very close relation to the surrounding residential areas and is part of the local identification. The Mathias square has no direct connection with the near situated pseudo-green-belt around the inner city’s district.
 
Among other things the open space plays a very important role in the mental-map of the local population. Because of the current deprived stage the pilot project area has less importance in local identity than it could fulfil. The pilot project area has scanty vegetation with little species diversity that's why there are favourable possibilities to develop the quality of green area. Also, there is enough free space to develop a playground and other facilities because the area cannot supply its public space function in its current state.  

current situation

The square was partly renewed in 2002, but the result of the last green-development activity was first of all a structural reconstruction of the open space. So this regeneration did not effect the presentfunctions of the area: there is still a concentration of homeless people and it stands out with high rate of prostitution. Since 2005 an integrated social urban rehabilitation project exists in this part of the district, where open space redevelopment plays a very important role in the regeneration process.
 
The pilot project is now in the last period of the preparation phase. As the local GreenKeys project is based on the involvement of the local residents in the whole development activity, the discussion of the public demands and expectations is going on and it will be finished by the end of January 2006.  

development goals

The main goal of this activity is the creation of high quality and well-maintained urban green space with new public functions. The GreenKeys program became part of this integrated regeneration process with its main values and strategic goals, by which the run-down process should be stopped and healthy housing environment should be created. According to the existing plans different public institutions (school, communal house, seat of civil organization, etc.) will be located around the square, and this will be accompanied by the green development, thus Mathias square will gain new functions.
 
It is planned to create a connection to other green spaces in the neighbourhood and to enhance the cultural issue of the area. The security of the area is a challenge too. Also the regeneration of the traditional retail sector is on the agenda. From the environmental point of view more green space with a higher quality should be created. Also a selective waste collection system is planned.
Through these actions a uniform local identity should arise.  

How to get involved

This pilot project is based on the involvement of the local residents. For the successful realization of this green-development, from the planning to the construction, there are involved the local government, inhabitants, civil organizations and educational institutions. To guarantee a high professional standard Rév8 Co. signed a cooperation agreement with the Corvinus University of Budapest.

Further information online

The pilot project has its own internet presentation please see here 
 
Information on site
Information for the citizens on site
 

 

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