Pervious pedestrian paths in “Zvezda” park

The City of Ljubljana undertook the renovation of the star-shaped pedestrian paths in the Zvezda park, situated right in the heart of the city. Due to the high frequency of people daily, the city decided to use paving materials that are more suitable for the park's trees and vegetation, ensuring usability in all weather conditions while preserving the appearance of the sandy paths. The primary goal of the renovation was to enhance the conditions of the green areas, which are particularly prone to trampling during bad weather or rainfall. The solution also contributes to reducing overheating of paved surfaces at the pedestrian level on hot summer days.

• Choosing a more friendly material for pavement with permeable characteristics, allowing rainwater to pass through and preventing it from settling after hardening.
• The implementation of the idea of sandy paths, originally envisioned by the renowned Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik.
• Finding a solution respecting conditions of cultural heritage protection and nature conservation since the park Zvezda is located in the historic city center.

• The use of white polyurethane for paving surfaces which are water permeable and UV-resistant.
• A certificate from the manufacturer for material characteristics.
• An approval for the implementation of the projects from sectors responsible for cultural heritage protection and nature conservation.

• No information about citizens and stakeholder involvement.
• Positive feedback from citizens on renovated pedestrian paths.

• Successful preservation of green areas with trees and vegetation, enabling better conditions for growing, which can consequently reduce the heat, especially due to the large, paved square nearby.

- The poor condition of the existing trees required different solutions from those planned before the renovation.
- Finding the most appropriate material for paving.

• Involve sectors, like cultural heritage, natural conservation, and other important stakeholders, right at the beginning of the process.
• Finding the material with great characteristics is crucial for long-term use of the area.
• Demonstrate to a wider audience the benefits of using the right colour and materials with permeable characteristics for open public spaces exposed especially to hot summer days.

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