The Greenkeys projects

The problem of abandoned and devalued urban areas is common among many European cities. The environmental, economic and social decline, which these areas often entail, requires rapid reconsideration and improvements as the lowering of the quality of life may not only spill over to adjacent neighbourhoods, but also the area itself does not need to be relinquished.

The cities are facing difficulties in finding an adequate solution to the main problem of how to apply methods of sustainable rehabilitation to redevelop and enhance the areas in the long term.

The European Commission has started the EU Community Initiative INTERREG III B CADSES (2005-2008), which focuses on increasing the sustainability of cities by initialising the endowment of green spaces. By means of that, local residents and medium-sized enterprises would benefit immediately, but the scientific and practical experiences gained during the projects are equally important as they will promote transnational cooperation in Europe and bring about further projects.

The key question posed by the GreenKeys project is: What are the tools and methods necessary for increasing the sustainability of urban areas by adding green spaces, given the fact that ecological, social and economical conditions are often mutually dependent?
Greenkeys focuses on the improvement of urban green spaces as a step towards more sustainable cities. The three main objectives are

  1. to provide incentives for structural changes in cities by offering opportunities for the enhancement of green spaces. Its 12 partner cities will, together with local stakeholders, develop a strategic approach for the pilot projects to create new or upgrade existing green areas to achieve more accessibility, social and recreational values and ecological efficiency. By the involvement of local activists, the political attention to the benefits of green spaces to urban environments will be increased. GreenKeys will support the implementation/evaluation of pilot projects in order
  2. to develop a “Pool of Green Strategies” (instruments, methods, concepts and good examples) based on the experiences being made to meet the demands of future needs and
  3. to use the synergies to promote the transfer of knowledge by a transnational network and, thus, foster the exchange of the particular national experiences.

In pursuing these goals, GreenKeys brings together 12 cities in 7 countries, 8 scientific supporters, external experts, design studios and NGOs, which participate through their own networks.

Home Contact Sitemap Disclaimer

Bulgarian
Sofia - Green space in sveta troitza estate
City Map  

Improvement of residential areas with green spaces 

profile

Type of green space Area   Users
Public open space 0,6ha   residents and visitors, children and elderly people

 
location

The space is situated in the Sveta Troitza panel housing estate in Sofia's distressed western part. There are three 23-storied and two 8-storied prefabricated blocks of flats nearby. Approximately 1300 people live there. The housing of lower quality, limited social services, and longer communication patterns compromise the quality of life. There are not enough green areas and places for recreation in the surroundings. West of the space a boulevard and a railway line pass. There are also a railway station and a terminal of a bus route to some villages in the vicinity of Sofia. South-east of the space the road Sofia - Belgrade passes, partly as a viaduct. 

current situation

The space is neglected and soiled with building refuse and waste. It is very unsightly as the little gardens, which the inhabitants have tried to create in front of some of the blocks of flats, look like today. 

development goals

The aim is to create a small green park with wooden benches that can offer an environment for regeneration and such forms of social contacts, which have been traditional for Bulgarians (e.g. conversations between neighbours in front of home's entrance near the small flowers garden). This goal will be achieved in close partnership with the inhabitants and with groups of children of different ages to find out what kind of opportunities for playing and physical activities they desire. Thus citizens will be stimulated to take care of their own environment.  

How to get involved

The initiative to improve the neglected area comes from the inhabitants of the district. Children living in the blocks of flats have organised a collection of signatures to corroborate their demand for an improvement of this space. It was handed over to the district's mayor. The parents have expressed their willingness to work voluntarily for the redesign of this environment. The involvement of the local people into planning and implementing the project will make them interested in protection, maintenance and development of the district's green spaces and subsequently in further projects. 
 
View between the prefabricated blocks of flats
children collecting signatures
Children collecting signatures

 

News

local events

press