Prato Urban Jungle promotes a new concept of open spaces and green areas of the cities, as nature is seen as an active tool for safeguarding citizens' health.
Split into 3 pilot areas, the project is promoted by the Municipality of Prato with the European funds by UIA Urban Innovative Actions. It implements Urban Jungle interventions to radically improve social and environmental quality of the urban environment. Participation of the architect Stefano Boeri is also foreseen for redeveloping the Consiag - Estra site, a classic office building, and other residential areas of the city.
The Nature-Based Solutions and innovative technologies that will be implemented include:
- increase of permeable green surfaces and creation of vertical and horizontal green surfaces;
- improving buildings energy efficiency through vegetation insulation screens;
- creation of new social spaces by converting car parks into public green areas;
- reducing buildings exposure to atmospheric and noise pollution;
- creation of an Urban Forest, available to all citizens, for reducing the impact of highly travelled roads.
- transformation of an unused roof into a green roof, making it an island of biodiversity that could be used by employees for socializing, living small events or doing physical activity.
- a social garden, intended as a place accessible to the residents.
Within the project, AirQino is aimed at monitoring environmental and air quality conditions before, during and after all interventions, in order to quantify the actual benefits resulting from Urban Jungles.
The AirQino network also provides real-time data that are used by the municipality to raise public opinion awareness.
