Cool Neighbourhoods is proud to launch the From Grey to Green series, a visual journey showcasing the transformative impact of the Cool Neighbourhoods project. This series will provide stakeholders, policymakers, and communities with insights into how nature-based solutions are reshaping urban environments to combat climate challenges and enhance liveability.
Why This Series Matters
Across North-West Europe, cities are facing increasing environmental pressures, including rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, and climate-induced social inequalities. Through the From Grey to Green series, we will illustrate how innovative interventions are addressing these issues by:
✅ Reducing
urban heat islands – Increasing green spaces, softening hard surfaces, and
introducing cooling technologies.
✅ Improving liveability – Creating
cooler, greener, and more enjoyable spaces for residents.
✅ Building urban resilience – Enhancing
cities’ ability to adapt to climate change, particularly in vulnerable areas.
✅ Promoting social cohesion –
Encouraging community engagement in planning and implementing solutions.
Each of the nine pilot areas within the project is a testbed for climate-adaptive solutions, addressing local challenges while contributing to a broader strategy for urban resilience.
The Nine Pilots: A Diversity of Challenges and Solutions
The Cool Neighbourhoods project is being implemented across nine pilot areas in four countries, each fitting within one of three typologies: Inner City Neighbourhoods, Deprived Areas, and Green Hubs.
|
Location |
Country |
Typology |
|
Middelburg |
Netherlands |
Inner City Neighbourhood |
|
Goes |
Netherlands |
Inner City Neighbourhood |
|
Wimereux |
France |
Inner City Neighbourhood |
|
Saint Omer |
France |
Deprived Area |
|
Middelburg |
Netherlands |
Deprived Area |
|
Ettelbruck |
Luxembourg |
Green Hub |
|
Province of Antwerp |
Belgium |
Green Hub |
|
Differdange |
Luxembourg |
Green Hub |
|
Goes |
Netherlands |
Green Hub |
These pilots go beyond individual interventions—they serve as models for climate adaptation, offering scalable solutions that can be replicated across Europe.
What to Expect in the From Grey to Green Series
This series will visually document the transformation of these spaces, capturing the "before" conditions, progress in implementation, and final outcomes. Through images, case studies, and key insights, we will highlight how each neighbourhood is evolving to become more climate-resilient and community-friendly.
📍 Stay Tuned! Over the coming months, we’ll share inspiring stories from each pilot site, demonstrating how cities and communities are turning grey into green. Follow along as we track these transformations and explore the lessons learned along the way.
🚀 Join the Conversation! Have questions or ideas on urban greening and climate resilience? Engage with us and be part of the movement towards more sustainable cities!
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The Transformation begins in Ettelbruck
Currently, the pilot site is a stark, functional
car park, its grey expanse serving as a reminder of the pressing need for
innovative urban solutions. A drone video vividly captures the site’s
utilitarian nature, showcasing the hard surfaces and lack of vegetation.