Urban activity park in Gjilan, Kosova : green space for meetings, experience and recreation

Abstract: Urbanization is a powerful global trend. Today, over half the world’s population lives in cities and within a few decades estimated that 70 percent of the world population will be urban dwellers (UN 2005). Along with urbanization we need smart ways to meet human needs with a better quality of life. That the city can offer an attractive living environment is therefore of great importance to the city’s ability to attract both residents and businesses. As cities grows, develop and become denser, the public spaces become important to bring people with both similar and different interests together. Public spaces such as green and blue areas in the city are seen as positive for all three components of sustainability, economic, social and ecological (Jansson, M. 2012). The values created by these places support that people are happier, less stressed, feel better physically and mentally, feel more connected with others, experience security and creativity and that the climate of the city is improved and contains greater biodiversity. All this means that fewer resources need to be put on technical solutions or medical institutions. Urbanization is also a big trend in Kosova. A housing boom in Kosova began to flourish after the war in 1999, because of people seeking better life quality in cities. Many multistory apartments and blocks had just began to rise, in other site few took parks, public spaces and recreation areas into consideration, they were pushed outside and forgotten. There was some fine public parks from the old times, but they were not enough to keep up with population grown and urbanization. During the end of 2013 I visited Kosova, I saw the lack of development in almost all branches that has to do with urban planning and it was then I got my eyes opened. I decided to do my thesis in the newborn country of Kosova and contribute with some of what I have learn during my studies in Sweden. The idea of the thesis was established in January after a meeting and discussion with the professor and urban planner/architect Ilir Gjinolli. He mentioned an ongoing project of an undeveloped area in the city of Gjilan were also a park of 6.5hectar is going to be made in the future. The vision of this area is to build and develop an entirely new neighborhood with a mixture of apartments, workplaces, cultural attractions, a new school and a new city park. The park area consists mainly of wild meadows, few available trees and piles of bricks, concrete and other used construction debris. The time to start creating a new and regenerated parks, is at the very beginning of the process of change.