Land Walls in historic cities are grey infrastructures nowadays, having lost their primary original protective purpose. However, their frequently empty surroundings can be reimagined as vibrant green spaces. By transforming these obsolete fortifications into interconnected systems of walls and open, green areas beyond the historic urban core, where cities can establish extensive, multifunctional green infrastructures. These spaces have the potential to be linked seamlessly with other urban parks and green zones, forming a significant ecological network that supports biodiversity, enhances urban climate resilience, and provides diverse ecosystem services through nature-based solutions (NbS). We will highlight successful international examples, demonstrating how cities worldwide have been revitalised with linear parks, green corridors, and integrated public spaces. These cases underscore the potential for heritage conservation combined with innovative landscape architecture and sustainable urban design, which can provide considerable environmental, social, and cultural benefits to contemporary urban environments.

Francisco J Abarca, PhD, University of Granada