Towards Sustainable Rehabilitation: Interactions Between Urban Materials and Green Solutions

Urban areas across the world face the dual challenge of abandoned or underused sites, often referred to as brownfield, and the need to create healthier, more sustainable environments. These neglected spaces not only represent a loss of urban potential but also contribute to environmental stress, including heat accumulation, impermeability, and biodiversity loss. Rehabilitating such neighborhoods requires innovative approaches that combine technical knowledge of urban materials with the ecological and social benefits of green solutions.

This research explores the relationship between the physical properties of urban materials, such as reflectance, thermal storage capacity, and permeability and the performance of vegetated strategies in urban rehabilitation. Materials such as asphalt, concrete, and brick significantly influence urban micro-climates by absorbing and radiating heat, altering surface runoff, and affecting the resilience of vegetation. By understanding these properties in detail, it becomes possible to design tailored solutions that not only address environmental challenges but also integrate seamlessly into the fabric of rehabilitated neighborhoods.

Green solutions, ranging from street-level vegetation and vertical greening systems to green roofs and community gardens, offer multiple co-benefits. They reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, support biodiversity, and create more livable public spaces. Yet, their success depends strongly on the underlying material context. For example, vegetation placed on highly reflective or heat-retentive surfaces may perform differently compared to vegetation integrated into permeable or cooler materials.

The project positions the analysis of urban material properties as a critical step in guiding the implementation of nature-based solutions for brownfield rehabilitation. The integration of these two dimensions, material science and ecological design, provides a holistic framework for transforming derelict urban sites into vibrant, sustainable, and resilient neighborhoods.

Ultimately, this approach aims to move beyond treating brownfields as isolated problems, instead re-imagining them as opportunities for ecological regeneration and urban innovation. By aligning the technical knowledge of materials with the adaptive capacity of green systems, the project contributes to a future where urban rehabilitation is not only sustainable but also regenerative.