Renaturalization of neglected and abandoned urban areas through green space development and conscious planting design, to restore important ecologic and social functions. In some remarkable sites they can be an important cultural manifesto: an opportunity to promote historical continuity between its past and the new layer of occupation. Promoting its character is an important step for a truthful relation with the site’s cultural identity, creating an opportunity to reflect on the damage inflicted by its previous occupation or, on the other hand, to celebrate the relevance of its past social and technological achievements. By recovering former abandoned spaces, this NBS creates opportunities for human use and wellbeing, while achieving ecological benefits such as treatment of polluted areas, habitat restoration and increase of local biodiversity.

• Abandoned/degraded areas can be restored and used by local communities;
• Reclaiming permeable soil from impervious surfaces, soil remediation, and reuse of abandoned structures can be a cost-effective strategy with significant social, environmental, and ecological

• This NBS is a potential tool for social, economic and environmental transformation and can be replicated to all neglected and socially deprived urban areas;
• The level of intervention can range from industrial areas, to abandoned city areas and small plots to wider areas. This NBS can also be developed in vacant lots pending urban development.