Green Infrastructure in the Context of Rural Space Restoration and Design

Abstract

This paper focuses on green infrastructure (GI) for restoration and design
of rural settlements in Slovakia. We explain our planning and design
approaches with a case study developed for the rural settlement
Tvrdoovce, situated in the south-western region of Slovakia, in the
Danube Lowland. Our case study is a complex landscape architectural
project conducted at three planning levels and scales based on administrative
and territorial units of different areas. At the first level, there
is a GI concept for the micro-region Cergát-Váh (area: 195.70 km2, 15,545
inhabitants), the second planning level consists of a more detailed concept
concerning the cadastral area of the village Tvrdoovce (area: 55.56
km2, 5,301 inhabitants) with the intention to create a visual and functional
linkage between settlement and landscape. At the third planning level,
we deal with public space design at a fine scale relating to the central
part of the village Tvrdoovce (0.09 km2 within the overall urban area of
the village that covers around 3 km2). The area in focus is the present village
centre and the linear historic open space situated in the central part
of the village. Our design follows the surrounding landscape and uses
principles and rules of rural space design. It is a qualitative contribution
to the rural community and its micro-region.