TRANSFORMING "GREY" CITISCAPES INTO GREEN URBAN LANDSCAPES

Abstract

The goal of the paper is to identify the key elements that influence the sustainable development of urban environments in the contemporary context, in terms of social, demographic and economic change. The method used implies the analysis of theoretical design principles, case studies of implemented solution in cities, both in Europe and around the world, and finally an evaluation of viable opportunities for Romania. The degree of novelty comes from integrating sustainable urban design, and landscape architecture principles in a country dominated by rigid and outdated socialist-era built environment. The expected results consist in a series of guidelines for applicable interventions in the existing urban realm. The usefulness and importance of the described topic is highlighted by the current problems in all urban environments, national and worldwide, when "old" cities face "modern" problems in terms of land use, pollution, circulation, the lack of quality of life, the lack of social integration, etc. All these elements highlight the importance of a topic that combines concepts of architecture, urbanism, and landscape architecture with the goal of outlining a better way of designing the environment that shapes our lifes.