AG - Spatial arrangement in response to societal needs on the e.g. of the AG Bielniki in Poznan
Allotment gardens (AG) are an integral part of urban greenery which is why it is vital to prevent them form being urbanized. Opening them to urban space and redefining their function could encourage everyone to use them - the elderly, the socially excluded, people with disabilities and children as well. Proposed concept for 'Bielniki' AG in Poznan responds to the social needs with ideas such as horticultural therapy and local food production, all based on principles of sustainable development.
Local
Poland
City of Poznan
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Allotment gardens (AG) date back to the 19th century and have always been an important part of the city space. Urbanization, industrialization and growing population have created a demand for garden areas in cities. Initially established to help the poorest, nowadays they serve mainly as a recreational area. The future of allotment gardens is very uncertain. Shaping and protecting the environment is essential in the context of these areas, especially in the times of climate change. Social changes and progressive urbanization of valuable green areas in cities have made allotment gardens a subject of conflict. The current status of AGs arouses negative emotions among city authorities and residents as AGs have been fenced off from urban space and designated exclusively for plot owners. The research and analysis carried out in the project make it possible to specify the design objectives regarding architecture, urban and spatial planning for the future use of AGs. The design concept has the potential to add a new value in the city, responding to contemporary issues. The goal is to draw attention to the advantages of locating gardens in cities and an attempt to solve their problematic aspects in terms of functioning and adapting to the needs of society. The idea of the project is to open AGs to the city, to propose a new form for the area and determine its social and economic qualities. The project is intended to draw public attention and encourage people to use these areas. The concept takes advantage of the site’s potential for garden therapy and food production. The architectural concept is based on principles of sustainable design. Some of the proposed solutions are acquiring solar energy and allowing small-scale water retention. The project suggests cooperation with, among others, schools, rehabilitation facilities, children's and nursing homes and so on.
allotment gardens
horticultural therapy
societal needs
sustainable architecture
urban greenery
The concept’s first priority is the aspect of transformed land and its users. The development of ‘Bielniki’ AG meets modern needs, relying on the principles of sustainable development with the aim of fighting climate change. It eliminates social exclusions and enables people to form relationships. The solutions are as follows:
- ponds for water retention to improve microclimate and provide new habitats for animals,
- creating public place in the city, respecting the needs of both city residents’ and users of the existing plots,
- the introduction of horticultural therapy (hortitherapy),
- design solutions of the facilities in the public space of the garden to obtain solar energy (e.g. photovoltaic panels),
- sustainable materials: CLT for rigid structure and channel glass for good thermal qualities (U=0.19),
- growing plants in year-round greenhouses and local food production,
- apiary within the fenced part of the garden,
- paths and roads made of permeable materials,
- creation of an avenue of garden interiors with a variety of vegetation to enrich the urban greenery and introduce hortiteraphy,
- preserving historical values of AG plots and the surroundings,
- a new identity of the designed place,
- support for local activities and establishing partnerships with educational centers.
The concept’s architectural and functional solutions can be applied to any other location. The layout of the buildings should be determined by the surrounding landscape, while the function and purpose remain unchanged, with the possibility to make adjustments. While duplicating the concept in a different location, it is recommended that historical aspects that shaped the particular place are taken into consideration.
Allotment gardens should be given a new form and function. The project focuses on the place’s character and people’s priorities in accordance with their expectations. Some proposed solutions are:
- opening the AG space to the city and introducing a new function; architectural characteristics to influence the environment and raise interest, e.g. a viewing tower,
- new architecture with references to the historical construction typical of AGs; buildings of similar, simple aesthetics, remaining in relation to the garden’s greenery; buildings of a visually light form, ephemeral in perception, made of sustainable materials (the channel glass façade illuminated at night makes the buildings look like beacons among the greenery in an attempt to change the perception of AGs as dangerous places),
- a common space; buildings are connected by pergola arches, which are in contrast with the simple form of the buildings,
- the pergola casts a shade on the objects; its yellow outline acts as a sign for the elderly and those visually impaired,
- the designed landscape with diverse vegetation affects senses and has a therapeutic effect (sensory paths),
- hortiterapy facility addressing children, socially excluded and the elderly, adapted to the needs of people with disabilities,
- garden courtyard for social activities, meetings and relaxation,
- plots of land for AG plot owners.
The concept is beneficial for society and urban development. It helps the excluded, educates and improves people's well-being through encouraging physical activities and therapy. The project suitably complements the urban greenery and responds to current issues by creating some new space for local food production.
Existing allotment gardens and their greenery usually remain inaccessible for the public. One of the project’s aims is to connect the city's districts around the designed area, allow efficient communication between them and encourage the residents to use the facility through making the garden space available to all. The concept offers residents the ‘third place’ which, according to Ray Oldenburg's theory, is an area of social interaction that brings community life together. Allotment gardens could become the 'third place' - a meeting spot for creating social bonds - once appropriate space development and equipment for recreation is provided.
The involvement of the local community allows the implementation of the hortitherapy program, which is one of the main advantages of the project. Hortitherapy encourages physical activity and improves one’s well-being. Active participation in therapy is equivalent to taking care of common spaces in the garden. The production of healthy food could make it possible to support those in need, as well as functioning of facilities such as educational centers or nursing homes. Raising residents’ awareness of aspects of climate change, nature and healthy lifestyle could bring many benefits too.
Existing allotment gardens and their greenery usually remain inaccessible for the public. One of the project’s aims is to connect the city's districts around the designed area, allow efficient communication between them and encourage the residents to use the facility through making the garden space available to all. The concept offers residents the ‘third place’ which, according to Ray Oldenburg's theory, is an area of social interaction that brings community life together. Allotment gardens could become the 'third place' - a meeting spot for creating social bonds - once appropriate space development and equipment for recreation is provided.
The involvement of the local community allows the implementation of the hortitherapy program, which is one of the main advantages of the project. Hortitherapy encourages physical activity and improves one’s well-being. Active participation in therapy is equivalent to taking care of common spaces in the garden. The production of healthy food could make it possible to support those in need, as well as functioning of facilities such as educational centers or nursing homes. Raising residents’ awareness of aspects of climate change, nature and healthy lifestyle could bring many benefits too.
In addition to municipal and state authorities, cooperation could also involve educational institutions, clinics, nursing homes, local facilities for the homeless and people with addictions, rehabilitation centers, transport companies. An important role could be played by organizations supporting the protection of urban greenery, providing gardening equipment and seedlings, to give an example, as well as non-governmental institutions for sustainable urban development in the European Union, whose goal is to support social initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life in cities.
Thanks to the involvement of various institutions, the project can attract the attention of people in need and encourage them to take advantage of possibilities it creates for them. The patronage of institutions, especially international ones, gives an opportunity to find sponsors for further development of the whole investment.
The development of allotment garden areas is related to multiple fields of research: horticultural therapy, agriculture, landscape architecture, architecture and urban planning, sociology and economics. The project requires involvement of psychologists, therapists, gardeners, architects, local retailers, educational workers whose cooperation could create relations with beneficial effect on the well-being of the residents using the services offered. Thanks to the specialists’ experience and expertise, the project space is bound to inspire trust among users and provide solutions of the highest quality to various social problems. What is more, engaging in cooperation with municipal transport managers to improve the accessibility of the area for citizens from remote city districts could as a result encourage the use of public transportation and contribute to reducing car pollution in the city.
In addition to the idea of opening allotment gardens up to the city and encouraging the citizens to use their space, the project introduces the aspect of gardening therapy - hortitherapy. What makes the concept stand out is not only the introduction of therapeutic and public areas among existing traditionally-shaped garden plots, but also the arrangement of buildings and their functional correlation. Within the allotment gardens area there are facilities dedicated to various users. Proposed architectural solutions, for example the observation tower, add a new value and act as an encouragement to explore the garden space. The project is distinguished by great attention to quality and design aesthetics, accessibility of the facilities and affordability of services, while maintaining the idea of sustainable urban development.
The way the proposed complex functions as well as its design solutions allow the concept to be replicated in other locations.
Before replicating the concept, it is necessary to refer to the surroundings in order to highlight the most important aspects of a particular location, thanks to which the arrangement of facilities could take advantage of, for example, viewing axes, public transportation accessibility and the idea of connecting different districts and parts of the city. What as a result would be different from the original concept is the number and the layout of designed objects.
Allotment gardens exist in most countries within the European Union. Their transformation through the application of the project is therefore possible. The theories on which the design is based and the material solutions can be applied anywhere while maintaining the core values of the concept.
The solutions adopted in the project, based on the example of the local allotment garden in Poznan, refer to the global challenges of the modern world. Architecture proposed in the concept aims for the principles of sustainable construction, so that through local action contribution to climate change prevention can be undertaken. The attempt to eliminate social exclusion is made by introducing a functional mix in a selected area in order to support people of all ages struggling with various problems. The development of technology and society's desire for self-fulfillment has weakened social contacts. The project initiates a dialogue between different social groups and gives them a chance to create a new sense of identity. In order to combat common health problems such as depression, addictions or disabilities, the design concept introduces the use of active and passive individual-oriented hortitherapy, which could as a result improve the condition of the whole society. An additional way to fight the crisis is the production of healthy food products to ensure a healthy lifestyle of the urban society.
