Typical characteristics: orthogonal street network, private or communal courtyards of varying size, regular block size, high focus on movement of people, clear parcel subdivision inattentive to natural conditions, disperse ownership with many different private owners.
Impact on soil: high degree of soil sealing, fragmented soil patches within blocks, limited space for infiltration, compaction from construction and traffic, altered natural drainage patterns.
Suitable soil interventions: permeable pavements in sidewalks and parking lanes, green corridors along streets, reduced car traffic, water infiltration spaces, green roofs, courtyard de-paving, structural soils under pavement for tree growth, rain gardens at intersections.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, urban green spaces, water retention and infiltration, artificial / engineered soils.
Typical characteristics: central core with radiating avenues, high focus on movement of people, hierarchical zoning inattentive to natural conditions, disperse ownership with many private owners.
Impact on soil: strong sealing in central core, stormwater concentration towards center (depending on topography), compaction from construction and traffic, limited spaces for infiltration, altered natural drainage patterns.
Suitable soil interventions: de-paving, pocket park at central core, decentralised rainwater retention, green corridors along axes, reduced car traffic, water infiltration spaces, green roofs, rain gardens at the central core.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, urban green spaces, water retention and infiltration, artificial / engineered soils.
Typical characteristics: high rise slabs in open green space, separation of working, living and recreating through zoning, car-oriented circulation, large open lawns as (potential) collective spaces, usually larger plots (ownership).
Impact on soil: large scale homogenisation of soils, soils are often artificial with a layer of construction sand, extensive above and below-ground infrastructure, underused grass fields with poor soil biology.
Suitable soil interventions: larger plots allow for bigger interventions: soil-sensitive urban redevelopment, multifunctional landscapes, permeable pavements in sidewalks and parking lanes, diversified planting and (native) vegetation, space for productive urban landscapes / urban farming.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, urban green spaces, protection by coverage, agro-ecology, use change.
Typical characteristics: irregular street patterns attentive to natural conditions, narrow alleys, high density, mixed-use fabric, gradual and incremental growth.
Impact on soil: high sealing ratio, limited infiltration space, contaminated soils, sensitive underground heritage.
Suitable soil interventions: desealing, micro-interventions, vertical greening, water buffering underground, in buildings or on roofs, (re)opening canals, conserving open spaces, soil remediation, protection of underground heritage.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, urban green spaces, water retention and infiltration, artificial / engineered soils, soil improvement / regeneration, conservation.
Typical characteristics: limited amount of public space, high percentage of open spaces, often privately managed, high car dependency: paved roads with parking.
Impact on soil: depends on private use: gardens may be maintained, left to grow wild, or paved over, sealed roads and parking spaces.
Suitable soil interventions: stimulation of soil-inclusive interventions on private properties, support of soil literacy, permeable paving, space for water infiltration on roads and parking lots.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, water retention and infiltration.
Related planning concepts:
Typical characteristics: low density, detached housing with private plots, limited amount of public space, high car dependency: paved roads with parking.
Impact on soil: extensive land consumption, depends on private use: gardens may be maintained, left to grow wild, sealed roads and parking spaces.
Suitable soil interventions: restructuring with compact building footprint, stimulation of soil-inclusive interventions on private properties, support of soil literacy, permeable paving, space for water infiltration on roads and parking lots.
Related families: conservation, de-sealing / de-paving, water retention and infiltration.
Typical characteristics: large monofunctional parcels, big warehouses and factories, heavy infrastructure, flat engineered terrains.
Impact on soil: extreme soil sealing, contamination, compaction, altered topography through land fill.
Suitable soil interventions: larger plots allow for bigger interventions: large scale de-sealing, large water buffers, function change and soil-sensitive redevelopment, soil remediation, large roof surface for green roofs and water retention, restoring soil conditions.
Related families: de-sealing / de-paving, urban green spaces, water retention and infiltration, artificial / engineered soils, soil improvement / regeneration, conservation, use change, circular soil management.
Linear peri-urban / rural development
Typical characteristics: low density, mixed age buildings along central axis, elongated urban form, large monoculture, pressure from other spatial claims: water retention, flooding resilience, housing.
Impact on soil: extensive land consumption, mixed levels of soil pollution (e.g. around old enterprises), soil continuity interrupted by traffic corridor, large scale soil homogenisation.
Suitable soil interventions: compact building footprint, soil remediation, underground connections across corridor, diversifying agriculture, no-till or low-till farming, agroforestry, diversifying planting.
Related families: conservation, soil improvement / regeneration, artificial / engineered soils, agro-ecology, use change, protection by coverage, water retention and infiltration, reforestation / afforestation.
Typical characteristics: large monoculture parcels, large scale warehouses and farming infrastructure, minimal tree cover, low spatial enclosure, straight drainage ditches / irrigation systems, pressure from other spatial claims: water retention, flooding resilience, housing.
Impact on soil: large scale soil homogenisation, soil compaction, nutrient leaching into groundwater, soil erosion, reduced soil biodiversity, decreased carbon storage.
Suitable soil interventions: diversifying agriculture, no-till or low-till farming, agroforestry, reforestation, hedgerow (re)introduction, vegetated canal edges, bioswales.
Related families: conservation, agro-ecology, use change, protection by coverage, water retention and infiltration, reforestation / afforestation.
Typical characteristics: small irregular plots on rolling terrain, parcels enclosed by natural boundaries, mixed farming systems, sunken lanes, pressure from other spatial claims: water retention, flooding resilience, housing.
Impact on soil: diversified soil conditions (depending on farmer), higher (soil) biodiversity, increased water retention, root systems stabilize soils, sunken lanes may have infiltration issues when overly paved, clay-rich soils may suffer water logging,
Suitable soil interventions: no-till or low-till farming, agroforestry, reforestation, hedgerow preservation and restoration, maintenance of sunken lanes as infiltration corridors.
Related families: conservation, agro-ecology, use change, protection by coverage, water retention and infiltration, reforestation / afforestation.