A Review of Theoretical Approaches to the Reuse of Urban Greyfields and Brownfields and Their Impact on Sustainable Urban Development

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Geography,Najafabad Branch , Islamic Azad University, Najafabad , Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Tourism Research Center, Department of Geography and Urban planning, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Tourism Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najaf Abad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction
In contemporary urban planning, the repurposing of abandoned and underutilized sites has emerged as a critical response to land scarcity and the evolving functional requirements of urban landscapes. Given the constraints surrounding large-scale land-use conversion, recent decades have established land redevelopment—with a strategic emphasis on infill development—as a vital approach to mitigating the adverse effects of uncontrolled urban sprawl. This study characterizes diverse types of urban land, with specific focus on the theoretical and paradigmatic significance of greyfields and brownfields in addressing contemporary urban challenges.
 
Methodology
The aim of this research is to examine the potential of greyfields in urban areas and to explore the theoretical approaches associated with the reuse of brownfields and greyfields. It also analyzes their historical evolution within the framework of sustainable urban development. In terms of purpose, this study is applied and follows a descriptive–analytical research design. Data were collected through documentary sources and content analysis.
 
Findings
In the past, with the continuous expansion of cities, various theories were proposed regarding the manner of urban development, each seeking to offer an optimal model for the physical growth of cities. Among the most notable are Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City, Le Corbusier’s Radiant City, Arturo Soria y Mata’s Linear City, and Tony Garnier’s Industrial City.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
Formerly developed urban areas may, over time and as a result of urban transformations, acquire characteristics such as abandonment, deterioration, inactivity, or reduced levels of activity, which in turn produce negative social, cultural, economic, and physical impacts on both neighborhoods and the city as a whole. Some of these lands may include sites occupied by buildings within urban areas that, under current urban conditions, have become abandoned and dilapidated. In general, prior to their reuse, such lands require various forms of intervention. The issue of greyfields and their reuse is therefore considered one of the most important factors in achieving balance between neighborhoods and urban areas.
The urban fabric of some cities includes service and commercial lands, such as covered warehouses and abandoned office buildings, which in many cases have experienced a decline in efficiency compared with the surrounding urban fabric. In such areas, the capacity for renewal and spontaneous transformation of the urban fabric has largely been lost. The inefficiency of these uses is evident not only in physical dimensions but also in the social, economic, functional, and identity-related components of urban areas. One of the most significant consequences of this condition is the reduction in the viability and resilience of these urban fabrics when confronted with environmental constraints and continuous environmental changes.
As a result, the stability and balance of urban areas are weakened due to disruptions in the distribution and performance of urban services. The findings indicate that many urban lands currently display the aforementioned characteristics that have emerged over time as a result of urban change, including abandonment and physical deterioration, which can generate negative social, cultural, economic, and physical consequences for neighborhoods and the city. Moreover, some of these lands may include sites with buildings in urban areas that, due to the stagnation of activities, have become abandoned and dilapidated under present urban conditions. Therefore, the issue of greyfields and their reuse is regarded as one of the most important considerations in achieving equilibrium between neighborhoods, urban areas, and sustainable development. The results further demonstrate that, given the challenges faced by cities in the twenty‑first century—particularly land scarcity and the contamination of parts of urban land—the reuse and redevelopment of greyfields constitute a critical strategy for maintaining balance within urban areas and promoting sustainable urban development.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 23 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 April 2025

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