Adaptive Reuse of Urban Network Space
CHALLENGES ADDRESSED
Score impact
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-1.png)
Nature
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-2.png)
Wellbeing
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-3.png)
Health
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-4.png)
Mobility
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-5.png)
Participation
![](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/themes/urbinat/assets/img/icons/icon-6.png)
Economy
DESCRIPTION
Urban network space can be defined as the urban public domain, generally facilitated as transport infrastructure and/or pedestrian space and its ambiguous residual spaces (e.g. streets, pavements, bridges, tunnels, underground car parks). The NBS ‘adaptive reuse of urban network space’ implies alternative – nature inspired – uses and/or spatial adaptations of urban network space (e.g. unsealing surfaces, creating linear parks, redesigning for active mobility, [re]programming under bridge vaults or underground parking lots) or a time management of various temporary uses in these spaces (e.g. Ciclovia Bogota, temporary marketplaces, street festivals). The main goals of this NBS contain revitalisation of neighbourhoods, eliminating existing physical/social/cultural barriers, reducing emissions, increasing active mobility and solidarity economy.
![Image](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NBSterr13-Adaptive-reuse-of-urban-network-space.jpg)
[NBS Card] Adaptive Reuse of Urban Network
Urban network space can be defined as the urban public domain, generally facilitated as transport infrastructure and/or pedestrian space and its ambiguous residual spaces (e.g. streets, pavements, bridges, tunnels, underground car parks). The NBS ‘adaptive reuse of urban network space’ implies alternative - nature inspired - uses and/or spatial adaptations of urban network space (e.g. unsealing surfaces, creating linear parks, redesigning for active mobility, [re]programming under bridge vaults or underground parking lots) or a time management of various temporary uses in these spaces (e.g. Ciclovia Bogota, temporary marketplaces, street festivals). The main goals of this NBS contain revitalisation of neighbourhoods, eliminating existing physical/social/cultural barriers, reducing emissions, increasing active mobility and solidarity economy.
INNOVATION ASPECT
- Rethinking ambiguous traffic spaces and their residual spaces in a systemic way by means of ecological and social networks;
- Changing the mobility paradigm and anticipating to technological innovation in mobility (e.g. a modal shift to active/sustainable/shared mobility);
- Reducing the massive amount of sealed surfaces, tackling water issues.
REPLICATION AND SCALABILITY
- Concepts are only partly replicable, tailoring ‘in situ’ is an inevitable part of this NBS;
- This NBS is extremely scalable, varying from ‘quick wins’, to small spatial interventions, up to massive transformations as a part of an overall integrated (re)design strategy.
PARTICIPATION PROCESS
![Image](https://urbinat.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/photo_2.jpg)
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1
CO-DIAGNOSTIC
Variable, depending on the scale.
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2
CO-IMPLEMENTATION
Only for small scale interventions.
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3
CO-MONITORING
Many best practices of ‘adaptive reuse of urban network space’ start as bottom-up participatory processes (e.g. New York High Line), by phases of temporary use and appropriation, often introduced by inhabitants or local association.
Best Practices & References
LINKS:
- Paris, Promenade Plantée and Viaduc des Arts: a linear park on top of an abandoned viaduct and reconversion of its arcades into a strip of crafts/art shops.
- Leuven, Park Belle Vue: a traffic space converted into a linear park landscape.
- Zaanstad, Koog aan de Zaan, A8ernA: a reconversion of an ambiguous residual space under a highway bridge