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Folia Geographica 2022, 64/1, pp. 27-48

SMART DISTRICTS: NEW PHENOMENON IN SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Case Study of Špitálka in Brno, Czech Republic

Michaela NEUMANNOVÁ A*

Received: August 17, 2021 | Revised: October 10, 2021 | Accepted: December 1, 2021

Paper No. 22-64/1-604

A* Masaryk University, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6134-6481
michaela.neumannova@mail.muni.cz (corresponding author)


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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore how underused brownfield sites could be transformed by employing smart city elements into positive energy districts. This paper introduces the analysis of good practices in construction of smart districts, focusing on the construction possibilities of smart district Špitálka in the Czech Republic. Methodologically, the paper is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with experts on urban policies and desk research method of available information. This paper presents both the conceptualization of smart city and theoretical approaches to the smart districts. Then an international research of smart districts in French Bordeaux and Austrian Vienna is presented. The author pursues to make recommendations for the Czech smart district based on the best practices of selected case studies for the Brno Špitálka project. Findings of this research point out the importance of taking the inspiration of best practices for post-socialistic cities from Western European countries in the process of redevelopment brownfield areas into the so-called smart districts. One of the possible ways is joining the lighthouse projects of European Union.

Key words
Sustainable Urban Development, Smart City, Smart District, energy neutral, Czech Republic.

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