Prato Urban Jungle: the nature-based solution for the green transformation of the city

Urban green covers many functions and brings numerous benefits to the environment and, consequently, to society. The presence of trees, in fact, if well planned and controlled, in addition to embellishing avenues, squares and gardens, is able to influence climate, air quality and livability itself
of our cities.

Such an important role that the Italian State has adopted Law 10/2013 “Regulations for the development of urban green spaces”. Among the objectives of the standard are the obligation for local authorities to increase urban green spaces and green belts

Adopting Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) is certainly the most effective way to pursue the goal of making our cities greener.

A virtuous example of urban afforestation is the Prato Urban Jungle (PUJ) project, one of the 16 good sustainability practices awarded by the 2022 edition of the Legambiente Urban Ecosystem Report.

PUJ is co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development through the Urban Innovative Actions initiative, and sees the City of Prato as the leader and, at its side, 8 partners: Stefano Boeri Architetti, PNAT, Institute of BioEconomy CNR-IBE, Treedom, GrenApes, Legambiente Toscana, Estra, EPP, who play different but closely interconnected roles.

The Prato Urban Jungle project aims to renaturalize some areas of Prato, in a sustainable and inclusive way, through the creation of real urban jungles in some marginal areas of the city, i.e. areas with a high density of greenery, immersed in the urban structure, capable of improving the livability and healthiness of the city and thus encouraging exchange, encounter and socialization.

The benefits of intensive green, in terms of health and well-being for the inhabitants, can be summarized as follows:
— reduction of pollution; through chlorophyll photosynthesis, plants absorb
carbon dioxide. The canopy and tissues of trees are also extremely effective against ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5);
— reduction of noise pollution; plants have a high sound-absorbing capacity
which, if combined with other types of barriers, makes it possible to reduce noise in a sensitive way;
— improvement of temperature by reducing the heat island effect; vegetation is a natural air conditioner, since it lowers temperatures by a few degrees thanks to shading and evapotranspiration;
— better management of meteorite water in the urban environment; tree crowns slow down the fall of rainwater to the ground and promote its infiltration into the soil, while roots compact the soil and contribute to the

The UPJ project will be implemented by gradually carrying out projects in four areas, called pilot sites.

The first is the Soccolo district, Consiag Estra Headquarters. It is a complex urban area that overlooks the busiest public road in the city with the daily passage of 50,000 vehicles. The project was conceived by Stefano Boeri Architetti and involves three different Nature-Based Solutions interventions involving the north façade, the south façade and the roof of the building

“The main challenge of the Prato context is that we intervene on existing architecture and not on virgin or abandoned spaces - says Stefano Boeri - We work on buildings that have their own ordinarity and that constitute a fundamental element of the contemporary urban landscape. Intervening on the new headquarters of Consiag-Estra makes it possible to rethink the facades and the roof with a view to a very strong vegetation, the improvement of energy efficiency and a clear reduction in air and noise pollution

The Boeri studio also oversaw the project for another pilot site, that of the San Giusto District, the EPP Via Turchia buildings, which involves the vegetation of the facades, the demineralization of the area used as soil parking (which will transform 1600 square meters of waterproof flooring into a draining surface), the construction of a large green entrance pergola and the creation of social spaces in the common garden.

Via Turchia's intervention aims to return natural soils and public space to the community, including trees, plants and living nature, grafted onto existing buildings by reducing mineralized surfaces, absorbing numerous tons of CO2 and increasing the well-being of the inhabitants.

Macrolotto Zero is the third pilot area of Prato Urban Jungle. A city market will be built here, whose facades will be covered with plants. The conversion of the former industrial warehouse where the market was created will be a model for the reuse of Prato's abandoned industrial heritage

The fourth pilot site is the commercial area of Via delle Pleiadi and will be redesigned by PNAT. In this area, the massive use of greenery will play a key role, in creating shade, environmental, visual and mental comfort.

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