The development of the stormwater management strategies, e.g., low-impact development (LID), water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), and sustainable drainage solutions (SUDS), was initiated in the mid-1980s as a set of engineering approaches and technologies to reduce the harmful effects of stormwater. Over time, all of them evolved in the holistic, multidisciplinary approaches and, today, they are increasingly viewed and implemented under the umbrella term “Nature-based Solutions” (NbS). The technical elements and measures of these NbS represent various technical solutions, implemented i.a., according to the suitability of the site to achieve their maximum efficiency. Currently, there are no standards or procedures for the application of NbS technologies in Serbia. To overpass this and encourage implementation, we carried out preliminary assessment of NbS elements suitability for application in eight urban settlements in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. The assessment is based on publicly available data and performed according to the existing recommendations in the field of spatial planning and rainwater management for WSUD. The analyses were conducted by GIS tools that involved spatial analyses of various terrain characteristics and provided an insight into the criteria, i.e., constraints that are key to the placement of various technical elements, including bioretention, rain garden, and permeable pavement. Research findings point out that creation of the thematic maps with area suitability ratings for individual NbS stormwater elements might represent a good starting point for further investigation, planning, and design. The proposed framework for preliminary assessment is potentially useful for the countries and regions without regulations in the field of NbS for stormwater management.

Despite the multiple contributions of public open spaces (POSs) to the quality of life in large housing estates (LHEs), the comprehensive treatment of their improvement has so far been a rare occasion in post-socialist countries. This paper aimed to explore the transformations of POSs in inherited LHEs in the socialist and post-socialist period and the potential for their regeneration. The investigation was based on a comparative analysis of two case studies in Niš, Serbia, which represent typical modes of POS devastation. The performed research study has shown that POSs have succumbed to dilapidation, displaying a wide array of problems and that their regeneration is neglected. The paper proposes a comprehensive set of measures to regenerate POSs based on contemporary concepts of urban planning and design with a special focus on long-term actions and residents’ needs. Particular importance is given to establishing the development guidelines as future prerequisites for overcoming current institutional, economic, legislative, and social obstacles for sustainable implementation of regeneration measures. These findings might encourage future studies of creating a model option for improving POSs at the city of Nis scale, as well in other Serbian cities towards sustainable urban development.

This paper deals with multiple benefits and outcomes at a lower spatialfunctional city levels generated by the synergy of Urban Green Infrastructure approach and integrated stormwater management approaches, resulting from their simultaneous application in the process of urban planning and design. The conducted research examines and analyzes key characteristics of Green Infrastructure and integrated stormwater management approaches, as well as their relationship in terms of principles, spatial-functional forms, types and benefits of their implementation. Since both of them are based on supporting and mimicking the natural environment in urban conditions, which makes them environmentally friendly and allows a greater presence of nature in many urban circumstances, the focus is on investigation of two common main principles and benefits of their implementation - closer connection with nature and increase of biodiversity in urban environment. The research platform consists of selected examples from Vienna which represent different types of lower spatialfunctional levels in which both approaches are applied, making them suitable for examining the effects of their synergy.

The process of urban shrinkage is affecting many cities around the world. It is evident in small towns as well, but unlike larger cities, it has not received much attention. Accordingly, this paper analyses small towns? shrinking focusing on post-socialist context of development, which led to new patterns of urban shrinkage in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). After discussing the specific characteristics of the shrinkage of small towns, their paths of development in different CEE countries are analyzed, in order to highlight the characteristics of urban shrinkage and the influence of post-socialist transition on this process. Thereafter, the shrinkage of small towns in Serbia is analyzed in order to determine whether the identified characteristics are recognized in them and to single out the specifics of that process in relation to other post-socialist countries. Based on the general characteristics of the development and shrinkage of small towns in the CEE countries, it can be concluded that shrinking small towns are not equally represented in all countries, and there are certain differences in terms of dynamics and intensity of shrinkage. The results of the analysis indicate that the previous path of development had a strong influence on their shrinkage after the post-socialist transformation. Three general trajectories of socialist development have been singled out, which influenced different patterns of urban shrinkage. In Serbia, it has also been observed that the shrinkage of small towns is directly related to the unfavourable direction of the urbanization process during socialist development.

Sustainability and resilience are the two main paradigms of planning and policy making in the past decades. Fostering resilience in the face of environmental, socio-economic and political uncertainty and risk has captured the attention of academics and decision makers across disciplines, sectors and spatial scales. Urban resilience has become an important goal for cities, especially from the point of view of adapting to climate change and reducing their ecological footprint. Urban resilience is conventionally defined as the measurable ability of any urban system, with its inhabitants, to maintain continuity through all shocks and stresses while positively adapting and transforming towards sustainability. However, in theory and practice there are different definitions that are often in conflict. This paper first provides an overview of existing definitions of urban resilience and highlights their main determinants. Then, the paper discusses definitions from the perspective of ways of incorporating key concepts found both in resilience theory and urban theory. In the following, similarities and mutual tensions are recognized between the key concepts. Finally, the paper concludes that a clearer conceptualization is needed to improve this developing field and create conditions for its further operationalization.

Ecologically oriented approaches are increasingly seen as a suitable conceptual and planning framework for sustainable urban development. Although they differ from each other, they also share many common characteristics, of which the application of a wide range of urban green spaces (UGS) is one of the key ones. One of the types of UGS that is increasingly gaining importance is the green roof. This paper analyzes the multiple benefits of their application to urban ecosystem services, with a focus on the following categories: 1) biodiversity, 2) urban agriculture, and 3) recreation and education. The research is based on the analysis of current theoretical knowledge and selected example of good practice. Research findings indicate that green roofs have positioned themselves as an efficient type of UGS that provides a large number of urban ecosystem services.