Candidate – Poland

Submission by: Wrocław Municipal Greenery Authority

Project name: Greening of Nowy Targ Square

Short description

a) Social cohesion
b) Biodiversity
c) Economic factors
d) Climate
e) Wellbeing of visitors/users

Greenery adds a new visual and aesthetic dimension to the square. The shape of the flowerbeds is orthogonal, adapted to the historical pattern of the floor, and emphasizes the symmetry of the square. New walkways through the greenery and benches allow for relaxation and building new social relations.

Landscaping was crucial in this project. Firstly, plants had to be resilient, adapted to difficult urban conditions; secondly, suited to the specific conditions of the green roof; thirdly, they had to support biodiversity. Finally, the entire plant composition had to meet high aesthetic requirements.

The new design has been well-received by both residents and tourists. The square has become a vibrant meeting place, very often all the benches are occupied.

Microclimatic conditions also improved. It is noticeably cooler, and the trees, although still small, already provide shade. The number of insects and birds in the area has also increased significantly.

f) The selection, origin and quality of used products and materials (greenery and constructing materials)
g) The overall design (landscape and optional associated buildings)
h) The impact on the environment (holistic, circular approach)
i) The innovation value of the project

The honey locust ‘Skyline’ trees, despite being planted in a geometric grid, soften the architectural dimension of the project. Their delicate crowns give the impression of airiness, play with chiaroscuro and do not create a dense canopy over the square.

Unlike trees, the arrangement of plants on the flowerbeds is irregular, unique for each of them, but with constant proportions of species. The composition of plants was selected to be decorative throughout the year, and the flowering extends across the entire growing season. Colorful flowers appear simultaneously throughout the square, but they are still a detail, not a dominant feature. They were designed with great attention to detail, taking into account the textures of leaves and flowers. The color palette goes from white through pink to purple, and most of the plants are very delicate and have an open structure.

The selection includes 61 species (shrubs, perennials, grasses, fern and bulbs) which provides a variety rarely seen in city centres. Many of them were used to create good conditions for supporting wildlife, including pollinators. Dense planting was used to provide immediate visual effect.

Almost all the greenery was established in the green roof system and is planted in special substrates. All trees are planted with underground anchoring systems. To provide the best conditions, irrigation and aeration systems for trees were used as well as anti-compression systems under the new paths between the flowerbeds. The top layer of the paths was made of local stone, with materials from demolition and products made of recycled materials also reused.

The flowerbeds are also used to harvest rainwater from paved part of the square, as an element of green-blue infrastructure. Additionally, to support plants during periods of drought, a precisely controlled drip irrigation system was used, which also improved the microclimate.