In February, the scientific paper 'A Historical Analysis of Urban Green and Blue Spaces in Socialist and Post-Socialist Zagreb, Croatia' was published in the renowned Q1 journal International Planning Studies. Among the co-authors of the paper is our employee, Luka Valožić.
The paper was authored by Tandarić, N., Ives, C. D., Watkins, C., and Valožić, L., and is available at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2025.2459309.
This study analyzes the planning and availability of urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) in Zagreb during the socialist and post-socialist periods (1945–2016). Using aerial imagery and urban planning documents, the authors examined five Zagreb neighborhoods to identify patterns of development and conservation of urban natural spaces. The results show that abundant green and blue spaces were secured during the socialist period and were largely preserved after 1991, with only a few new additions. A comparison of planned and realized urban spaces revealed discrepancies and temporal variations in their implementation. The study highlights that today's residents of Zagreb continue to benefit from urban green and blue spaces thanks to infrastructural investments made before 1991. These findings provide a valuable foundation for further research and can serve as a guideline for future sustainable urban planning, aiming to improve quality of life and enhance the city's ecological resilience.