Remember urban ecology: Vienna's path to more green areas
Remember urban ecology: Vienna's path to more green areas
A remarkable book about the connection between urban ecology and quality of life was recently presented in the Vienna City Hall. Under the title "Ecology of the City", various authors, led by Gottfried Liedl, have examined the challenges and opportunities that urban spaces offer. The 75-year-old Liedl, an experienced lecturer at the University of Vienna, brings his personal experiences as a "street boy" and "Bauernbub", which are formative for his view of the need for nature-related biotopes in cities
According to the foreword of the book, many cities are shaped by a history of nature destruction. In order to meet these challenges, the team of the seven authors insists on the need for a fair share of green areas. "City ecology therefore not only includes the buildings that are in a city," they write, and emphasize the importance of a harmonious interplay between different architectural and natural elements.
Vienna as an example of green urban design
A central topic in the book is Vienna, especially in the context of the "Red Vienna", which serves as a model for a green city design. After the Second World War, the municipal building was increasingly shaped by green areas, which led to the creation of living space. Liedl emphasizes that these developments not only beautify the cityscape, but also have positive effects on the quality of life of the residents.
diversity in the city landscape is presented as the key to a deep understanding of the urban environment. However, the authors widen their eyes beyond Vienna and also consider international examples. The hanging park in Seoul is emphasized as a figurehead for the positive effects of well-planned green areas on psychological well-being. The importance of these parks for the life satisfaction of the residents cannot be underestimated.
global perspectives on urban ecology
Another exciting part of the book is devoted to urban development in Singapore. There are impressive architectures that are linked to a lot of green and could serve as a model for other cities. Singapore shows that it is possible to combine nature and urbanity to increase the quality of life of the citizens.
The creators of the book, which include both young and experienced researchers, set themselves the goal of enriching the discussion about urban ecology and creating alternative perspectives. There is agreement that the design of green areas not only plays an aesthetic, but also a functional role in the modern city. In Vienna, where the park landscape has grown by around 12 hectares annually since 1819, the positive development is already evident in this regard. This growth symbolically stands for the continuing success of the city in terms of quality of life.
The book conveys that future -oriented urban planning should put people at the center of their considerations. "A look into the future would actually be important everywhere," summarizes one of the young authors, Katrin Rupp, and underlines the relevance of this topic. The comprehensive consideration of urban ecology in the book is not just a theoretical exercise, but an urgent call to the action in order to make the habitats in cities sustainable. For more details on this topic, see the report at www.diepresse.com .