Including Citizens’ Perspective in Advancing Urban Green Infrastructure: A Design-Toolkit for Private Open Spaces

Maria Stella Lux ()
Additional contact information
Maria Stella Lux: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-28

Abstract: In response to the growing pressure from urban expansion and the risks associated with climate change, adapting cities and reintroducing nature into the urban environment are becoming increasingly urgent. The implementation of Urban Green Infrastructure plays a key role in adaptation strategies, thanks to its ability to offer a wide range of ecosystem services. However, the adaptation process must necessarily be trans-scalar and include collective participation to ensure a real improvement in both physical and social urban resilience. For this reason, citizen participation in planning processes is essential, but even more important is the recognition of their active role and the scope for private citizens’ involvement. The transformation of private spaces according to UGI principles and with a view to the common interest, however, is still a theme that is scarcely included in urban resilience plans. This study presents the results of a survey conducted in the case study of Milan through questionnaires and focus groups to record preferences, concerns, and priorities in the sustainable transformation of private open spaces. The outcome of the study is the definition of a toolkit for the design of private open spaces, integrating Nature-Based Solutions and adhering to UGI principles.

Keywords: Urban Green Infrastructure; Nature Based Solutions; private open spaces; citizens engagement; urban adaptation; Milan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6781/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6781/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6781-:d:1709980

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().