LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES FOR URBAN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: A RAIN GARDEN CASE STUDY

Private gardens and small urban open spaces can play an important role in preventing local floods caused by urban runoff especially during heavy rainfall events. Borders and other garden spaces, designed for the interception, storage and drainage of rainwater, collected by the nearby impervious surfaces, are defined as “rain gardens”. The appropriate planning and design of rain gardens can, at the same time, have a positive influence on the water cycle and offer interesting opportunities for aesthetically creative landscape design. The paper presents a case study of the application of the rain garden model in a public urban site, in the Veneto region. Solutions in regards to dimensioning, species selection, and site preparation are presented.