Landscape and Open Space Development in Alpine Metropolitan Areas

The basic premise of the project is the finding that metropolitan areas located in the Alpine Space face similar challenges: growing pressure for land from different sectors of activity such as housing, economic activities or grey infrastructure provision. This results, on the one hand, in densification and, on the other, in dispersal of spatial structures. The space is limited, whereas demographic and lifestyle changes operate in the opposite direction. The pressure is especially high in the peri-urban hinterlands of large cities, affecting their landscapes, the natural and cultural resources and heritage of these areas, as well as the quality of living. The overall objective of the project is to understand, manage, develop and valorise the open space and landscapes in the hinterlands of central cities of metropolitan areas, their natural and cultural resources and heritage as parts of the wider green infrastructure networks. Holistic approaches as well as contributing to implementation of relevant European strategies and policies, such as on green infrastructure or the urban and territorial agenda, are aimed for. The envisaged results include preparing (1) recommendations on landscapes and green infrastructure in the hinterlands of alpine metropolises for EUSALP and other European strategies, (2) recommendations for decision makers in cities and regions, (3) a toolbox for new ways of cooperative implementation, (4) comprehensive landscape approaches for sustainable peri-urban development, and (5) establishing a network of Alpine metropolitan cities and a network of practitioners.