This paper is aimed to analyze the existing relationships and controlling functions between the urban green infrastructures on the resilience of the urban sprawl. The analysis begins questioning whether urban sprawl sustainable growth can be controlled after achieving urban supported by urban green infrastructure. The analytic method used is based on developing a conceptual and theoretical framework of reference to review the literature on the main variables of the research: Green infrastructure, resilience, and urban sprawl. It is concluded that while it is difficult to find linear causality in a direct relationship among the variables of the analysis, it is supported by the existence of more holistic connectivity leading to the controlling of the urban sprawl. The analysis suggests that a holistic approach is required to build urban resilience based on green infrastructure by addressing a fuller range of ecosystem disturbances and disasters, to create the outcomes that develop the environmental and ecological benefits of urban spectrum of ecosystem disturbances and disasters, to create the outcomes that develop the environmental and ecological benefits of urban sprawl.

Este trabajo entrega una revisión crítica respecto de la literatura especializada existente acerca de algunas características importantes de los espacios verdes urbanos, como los componentes, funciones, servicios, participación comunitaria, iniciativas y acciones desde una perspectiva eco sistémica. El análisis parte del supuesto de que los espacios verdes urbanos son ecosistemas de vital importancia para mejorar la calidad de vida en un entorno urbano y para proporcionar servicios ecosistémicos, como la biodiversidad y la regulación del clima. Por lo tanto, el espacio verde urbano es un componente esencial de un ecosistema en cualquier desarrollo comunitario. Satisfacer las necesidades de los usuarios está relacionado con las funciones y servicios que los espacios verdes urbanos proporcionan a las comunidades. La participación, el compromiso y el desarrollo de la comunidad requieren mecanismos para asegurar el cumplimiento de las necesidades y aspiraciones de los usuarios locales en la comunidad. Los métodos empleados en este análisis son la revisión de literatura y de documentos secundarios, el análisis de datos existentes acerca de usos y usuarios, y entrevistas con autoridades. Como conclusiones, el documento sugiere iniciativas ambientales, económicas y sociales para las autoridades locales y las comunidades que se pueden aplicar a todas las partes interesadas representadas e involucradas.

International modernism has brought new solutions to urban greenery, primarily aimed at improving the living conditions of the inhabitants. Currently, much more is expected of green areas, and at the same time, various impacts influence their modifications. The article focusses on changing approaches to the issue of green wedges design resulting from the socio-political transformation and the changes in approaches to city planning priorities. We selected Warsaw for detailed research, where the evolution of this approach can be clearly observed. The study showed the changes in the size, layout and function of one of the most important green areas and residents’ expectations. The formulated conclusions and threads may be helpful in spatial policy, spatial planning and urban design in various cities with an open areas structure similar to Warsaw.

This article explores green space planning in Warsaw between 1916 and 1954, as an example of the creative development of the concept of shaping green spaces through years in the city. Based on relevant plans and documents this study shows that regardless of the conditions or political system, the urban green areas adopted after the war was optimal, because it resulted from the real needs of the state capital, which after many years of partitions, regained independence, and thus the ability to self-decide about its further development. The article examines the impact of planning concepts from the interwar period on the reconstruction of Warsaw in shaping green spaces. The paper focuses on indicating the similarities and differences in urban plans derived from the interwar time and the “social-realistic” period. The research starts with studies at the general level and leads to detailed solutions. The research uses the method of critical analysis of source data, including cartographic studies and the comparative method. In addition to strictly scientific research methods, the study also uses artistic evaluation of the designed urban greenery assumptions. As a result of the war, many European cities suffered severe damages. Warsaw belonged to the most experienced in this area. Paradoxically, the city’s destruction has become an opportunity for rebuilding it as a better one, also in terms of strengthening the resources of green urban areas. Already in the pre-war period, the need to increase the city’s area resources was strongly articulated to enable a coherent and future-oriented urban policy. The idea of strengthening the field base constituting urban resources was at the root of the idea of cooperative activity so popular in the Scandinavian countries or Germany. However, in Poland, right after the war took a pathological form. Under the so-called decree on communalization, also called the Bierut Decree, the ownership of land within its administrative boundaries was transferred to the municipality of Warsaw, which facilitated the process of implementing changes. The concept of building Warsaw in 1945 assumed functional segregation of the city following the idea of Le Corbusier. The overall thought was to rebuilt Warsaw as the town for the new “socialist” type of citizens. Although the urban planners working during the so-called “social-realistic” period (1945-1954) affirmed that their ideas of the development of towns were entirely new, the plans prepared for Warsaw depict many similarities to the ones worked out in the interwar period, from 1916 on. At the same time, the plan assumed maintaining wedge-shaped zones of greenery entering downtown. Subsequent proposals of the first post-war years followed this principle. Subsequent concepts for the development of Warsaw arising in the second half of the 1940s were consistent with the assumptions of the Athens Charter of 1933, guaranteeing residents’ access to greenery, accompanying residential districts, or creating a city-wide recreational space.