Improving connectivity and mitigating landscape and environmental impacts of dispersed urbanization in Alcabre-Navia (Vigo)
The Alcabre Verde proposal proposes to address dispersed urbanization and improve the urban-rural matrix through a battery of integrated actions, improving the ecological and territorial functionality of the parishes of Alcabre and Navia (Vigo).
THE CHALLENGE
Disorderly urbanization in the parishes of Alcabre and Navia, combined with the construction of large infrastructures, has resulted in a poorly functioning area. Over decades, the original matrix has gradually deteriorated, leading to loss of biodiversity, disrupted coastal dynamics, low-quality public spaces and weak ecological and territorial connectivity; resulting in a fragmented urban area lacking connectivity and ecological functionality, where green infrastructure consists of undefined interstitial spaces.
THE SOLUTION
At Khora, we designed five defragmentation actions to enhance the functionality of the Alcabre and Navia parishes and integrate them with the surrounding areas. This approach employs a unifying, comprehensive framework grounded in ecological connectivity and an ecosystem-based territorial vision.
The first action is the drafting of the Renaturalization Strategy of Vigo, seeking to establish the framework and scale for coherent physical interventions in Alcabre-Navia. Subsequently, actions are carried out on a core area – Nelson Mandela Park – and on three potential ecological connectors: transforming Avenida Europa into an ecological axis, renaturalizing the Alcabre waterfront and humanizing the VG-20.
Actions range from revitalizing agricultural activity through land stewardships to improving cycle-pedestrian mobility along major routes, including dune regeneration, expanding green infrastructure in built environments, deploying SUDS, restoring streams in artificialized areas and prioritizing roads through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).
The result is parishes with coherent, functional and balanced land uses, featuring a connected, resilient green infrastructure adapted to climate change and maximizing ecosystem services.
