Nature Based Solutions - Implementation Models Database
Implementation model
Gomeznarro park
A short description of the NBS project
As a result of its topography and impermeable ground surface, the Gomeznarro Park (10.000sqm) in Madrid has been affected by erosion during heavy rainfall events, and the surrounding residential areas suffered from flash flooding. In response to these problems, in 2003 complex works aiming at improving the natural drainage and rain water retention were carried out in the park. These included removal of impervious pavement and use of permeable surfaces, restoration of compacted soils, revegetation of the areas at risk of erosion and installation of underground rainwater collection system and storage tanks. These measures eliminated the problem of erosion and flash flooding in the area, reduced pressure on wastewater management system and established a more natural water cycle in the area. An additional benefit came from the increased moisture in the soil that also helps to ameliorate the Urban Heat Island effect in and around the park.
In 2004, the project received a ‘good practice’ qualification as part of the best practice award scheme by the UN Habitat. The water infiltration and collection technology has been subsequently replicated in a number of projects in Madrid (e.g. green areas in Valdebebas development; Madrid Rio - M-30 motorway; sports areas Daoiz y Velarde and Marques de Samaranch; Alzheimer Centre Fundación Reina Sofia) and elsewhere in Spain (e.g. the shopping centre car-park in Autonomous Community of Galicia and a park in Urbanización Torré Baró in Barcelona).
NBS Implementation context
Location
Spain, Madrid, Hortaleza District (Spain)
Latitude
Longitude
Status
Project delivered (January-March 2003)
Dates
Description of the NBS
NBS Scale
neighbourhood
NBS Impacts scale
• Neighbourhood
• City
Urban density/ Soil consumption
High (dense city center, etc.)
Combined with other(s) environmental friendly solution(s)?
Governments
• Local government/municipality (Madrid municipality)
Contracting Authority
Project manager (leader and main partners): entities names, and know-how involved
Who (else) was involved in the project ? (Inhabitants, local association, etc.)
More detail on the process and the role of the different stakeholders (How did it happen?)
OPTIONAL Considering the actual impacts, who are the primary beneficiaries of the project.
Cluster
Governance Model
Description
cluster1_traditional_public_administration
Hierarchical_governance
The municipality of Madrid financed the project. The construction cost was €343.600 (approximately €34/sqm). Whilst the benefits have not been assessed in monetary terms, there are no additional maintenance costs in comparison to traditional landscaping solutions used in parks. The project resulted in reduced erosion, risk of flooding and pressure on the drainage systems. The park receives yearly about 5 million litres of rain water, which now does not enter the drainage system but instead recharges the groundwater levels and results in a lower need for additional watering by park maintenance. Further benefits include improved air quality and reduced air temperatures in and around the park.
Financing
Global Estimated cost of the project
200k€- 1M€ (343.600€)
Cluster
cluster1_public_financing
FM
Public financing
Description of the financing mechanism
The municipality of Madrid financed the project. The construction cost was €343.600 (approximately €34/sqm). Whilst the benefits have not been assessed in monetary terms, there are no additional maintenance costs in comparison to traditional landscaping solutions used in parks. The project resulted in reduced erosion, risk of flooding and pressure on the drainage systems. The park receives yearly about 5 million litres of rain water, which now does not enter the drainage system but instead recharges the groundwater levels and results in a lower need for additional watering by park maintenance. Further benefits include improved air quality and reduced air temperatures in and around the park.
Business Model
Class
Type
Description
The adopted solutions are able to preserve and restore in a natural way the quality of the managed water (bioremediating systems), providing living urban land, improving efficiency in the water and soil use, the integration of infrastructures (road, sanitation and purification) with the natural environment and providing new water resources. In particular, the natural cycle of water in the city is restored.
The system involves a profound change with respect to criteria and technologies used to date, instead of transferring and increasing contamination from A (collector) to B (sewage treatment plant). The new criteria are committed to solving the problems of water quantity and quality at source. The contamination of water by urban runoff is a problem of diffuse contamination, so it is necessary to act in a diffuse but profuse manner.
The drainage of urban green spaces approach adopted in this case study has been replicated in other locations in Madrid and elsewhere in Spain.
Temporal Factor
Expected time for the NBS to be fully effective after its implementation
Expected life time of the intervention
Already feedbacks on the project? In case, the project has already been adapted to new requisites, please explain the modifications brought
Success and limiting factors
Process Enablers
Class
Subclass
Type
Description
Knowledge_drivers
Awareness
• Climate Change
The technology and materials applied were novel in Spain. This caused delays in implementation, as the design had to be carefully planned; approval criteria for the solutions proposed by the private consultant and provider of the technology had to be defined; and the contractors had to be thoroughly briefed. A particular difficulty arose as a result of the need to engage different municipal departments (water management, construction, planning, environment and others) in the planning and delivery.
Governance_drivers
-
Economy_drivers
De-risking
Create conditions for new business models and finance schemes
• Public de-risking strategies;
Process Inhibitors
Class
Subclass
Type
Description
Knowledge_drivers
Uncertainty
Technical inadequacy
• Operational unknown
• Performance unknown;
• Lack of ready-to-apply scientific results, concepts and technologies
Governance_drivers
Complexity of governance structure
• Role ambiguity
Economy_drivers
-
-
What makes this project a pioneer?
Field
Criteria
Brief description of the innovativeness
Has the project received a prize, an award?
Has the project received a media coverage? (in reviews, in press, etc.)