NBS Genova
UNaLab project is an EU-funded project that aims to develop smarter, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable urban communities.
Genova is one of the three frontrunner cities selected for the project.
Genova is the third largest city in Northern Italy and the largest city of the Liguria region with a population of 607000 people.
Genova is characterised by a narrow coastal zone with hills and steep mountains nearby.
Genova is facing challenges reagarding frequent flooding mostly due to intense rainfall and a highly urbanized landscape.
The city also faces challenges regarding extreme weather conditions such as water management issues, heat stress and water and air pollution.
Connectivity of the Lagaccio area (dark green) to surrounding natural areas
To combat these challenges a large number of Nature based solutions (NBS) have been set up in Genova.
Nature based solutions are solutions inspired or supported by nature. They are natural solutions to combat societal issues such as the ones Genova is facing.
Gavoglio Park
The Gavoglio urban park occupies an area of approximately 16.000 m2 and is almost entirely constructed using NBS. All its functions, studied together with citizens, are designed to be compatible with the local environment and are intended to create a welcoming and sustainable public space using green solutions. The UNaLab project deploys 12 different types of NBS, which make up a rich catalogue of blue-green solutions with the aim of verifying their effectiveness in view of their replicability in other areas of the city.
Draining pavements
Draining pavements are hardscape surfaces whose main purpose is reducing water runoff and enable rainwater infiltration.
Sand playground
Sand playgrounds are smooth basins filled with sand in order to create a safe soft surface for recreational purposes. In the park the play area is composed by different interventions integrating anti-shock rubber surfaces with sand pools.
Rain garden
A rain garden is a bioretention shallow basin designed to collect, store, filter and treat water runoff. Stormwater is drained into rain gardens, where is stored for a short period; here hence it either infiltrates into the ground or flows into the sewage system through a dedicated underground drainage pipe.
Infiltration basin
Infiltration basin is a vegetated depression designed to hold runoff from impervious surfaces, allow the settling of sediments and associated pollutants. Infiltration systems allow water runoff to infiltrate into the ground over a period of time, in order to reduce the volume of runoff during a rainfall event.
Bioswales
Bioswale is a long-channeled depression, often established near the sport area and the east side of the park with the objective to reduce flood risk during or after heavy rain events.
Tree groups and green areas
The group of trees creates an environment in summer which is similar to a small patch of forest in order to perform an adequate microclimate. Trees can form a closed canopy, and, in this way, they can cover the surface beneath them.
Drought-resilient orchard and meadows
Small plots will be used as cultivation area, making the management easier and using drip irrigation systems. Different fruit trees grow in these plots.
Slope afforestation
These are forestation actions on steep slopes devoid of vegetation. There will be an experimental use in some flat areas of biodegradable devices for irrigation efficiency. The structure ensures a quick consolidation effect of the gradings in instability.
Green wall
A green wall consists of a vine that can climb a structure on its own. The plants should be planted on the bottom of the wall and grow versus the top of the structure. The main purpose is landscape mitigation, air quality improvement, and local noise reduction, intervening along existing and new wall faces.
Natural engineering for slope securing
Log crib walls are retaining walls constructed with wooden logs to secure slopes against sliding and to hold up paths. The main structure is made by using chestnut timber forming a like-wall framework, then willow live cuttings are planted into the structure to have an additional reinforcement when roots gradually take over.
Gabions
Gabions are steel cages filled with debris and rocks that allow to create retaining walls by reusing construction site debris and sustainable materials. Some gabions are completed with a vegetative task, to increase biodiversity and reduce heat stress, others are completed with stone top to create benches for public spaces.
Underground water retention basin
An underground water retention basin can manage excess stormwater runoff in an urban setting where there is insufficient space on the site to infiltrate it.
