One of the essential factors influencing the overall urban experience is the presence of biologically active surfaces. Despite widespread awareness of the beneficial effects of such spaces, the natural tissue in cities is still being significantly limited by the priority given to functionality and the economy. The aim of this article is to assess the potential of using a hybrid infrastructure in the grey–green–blue system (GGB) on a public site. In order to assess the efficiency of the implemented solutions, a multi-criteria method was developed, thereby recognising this research aspect as necessary in the process of designing urban built-up spaces. The assessment compared indicators of biological activity in the area using the biotope area factor and green space factor scales. The rainwater retention potential was estimated using a quantitative method. The change in the site’s thermal conditions was analysed by conducting numerous experiments with the use of micrometeorogical computational fluid dynamics models ENVI-met. The demonstrated improvement in the proportion of the biologically active area, water retention, and thermal conditions, ranging from a few to a dozen percent compared to the initial state, confirms the legitimacy of using grey–green–blue infrastructure systems as a method of shaping a sustainable and climate-responsive urban design.

Agroforestry, where trees and shrubs are planted in row-alley systems, can utilize the natural ability of plants to interact with pollutants and serve as a passive biotechnological method for improving air quality. A method for programming air phytoremediation processes is presented, using appropriately shaped plant structures, considering species characteristics and the spatial configuration of plants in row-alley plantings. The main objectives of this study were: to determine the relationship between pollution reduction and the characteristics of plant communities, considering the parameters of individual plants and group characteristics, to determine strategic parameters for the interaction between plants and pollutant flows, and to identify optimization paths for each stage. The optimization of the air phytoremediation process is presented using the example of changes in the fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentration pattern, analyzed through numerical experiments using micrometeorological computational fluid dynamics models (ENVI-met software). Ex-ante analysis of hypothetical scenarios showed that introducing appropriate configurations of variable vegetation structure could lead to pollution reductions of up to 19%. The effectiveness of the presented plant systems qualifies this method as a type of bioengineering technology, supporting the multifunctionality of agroforestry systems.

Urban park areas mitigate urbanization’s negative impacts by integrating environmental, social and cultural benefits. Development strategies should enable participation and consider all user groups’ needs, following sustainability principles. However, ensuring multifunctionality often generates conflicting decisions. While the universal necessity for safety is widely acknowledged, its implementation frequently results in the diminution of a crucial sense of privacy. For example, the universally recognized need for safety may compromise the willingness sense of privacy or intimacy. This can discourage those for whom this need is important and prevent urban parks from fully utilizing their social potential. This study examines how spatial configurations of plant forms within urban parks shape personal experiences. We used an intra-group design to evaluate photographs of park spaces, manipulated using Photoshop AI algorithms to examine safety, privacy, preference, and willingness to spend time. Variables included space size and shape. The study used Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) with 300 participants. Regression and mediation analyses showed willingness to visit derives from space attractiveness, influenced by perceived safety and privacy. Analyses revealed the following: open areas were safest but the least private, corridor spaces were the least safe but the most private; curtain screens enhanced perception better than corridor screens; small spaces with corridor screens were least attractive; space size mattered less for open spaces than screened spaces; and spatial configuration was critical in assessing small spaces. The findings of this research enhance our comprehension of the perception of park spaces. They hold potential practical implications for sustainable design, facilitating the development of plant forms that are more socially effective, particularly those with substantial environmental value, such as dense vegetation that serves as visual screens. Neglecting these preferences may result in inappropriate design decisions that fail to accommodate users’ needs and behaviors, thereby not fully capitalizing on the potential of urban green spaces.