The reuse of military campgrounds following the interventions of environmental design and the grant of their use to the contemporary city. The case study of “the Velissario military campground in Ioannina”

The current case study presents a proposal for the redevelopment and reuse of the Velissario military campground in Ioannina, in western Greece. The military base is considered a prohibited area and an urban void completely cut off from the city. Firstly, the concept of sustainable development, the legislative framework, the historical background of environmental protection and examples of the reuse of other military bases worldwide are mentioned. Secondly, the significant characteristics of the surrounding area and the interventions according to the environmental design for the sustainable development of the city are presented, such as the preservation of the existing greenery, the creation of new green areas and their connection with the adjacent Pyrsinella park, for the creation of a Metropolitan Park, as well as the construction of a lake. Furthermore, the creation of sports and cultural facilities, hiking and cycling trails, the preservation of the necessary existing military buildings and the construction of new buildings is suggested. Environmentally friendly structural materials and renewable energy resources will be utilized. Both water and litter created in the park will be recycled and reused so that they compose the Prototype Park of Sufficient Environmental Management that we aspire to create.