This master's thesis explores a framework for upgrading open spaces within urban blocks in Ljubljana through the implementation of green infrastructure measures and the enhancement of placemaking. Based on existing knowledge and experience, the research examines how the introduction of place-based green infrastructure measures beneficially affects living conditions and urban heat island mitigation, while also investigating the contribution of these measures to placemaking. The framework is grounded in a typological classification of 112 urban blocks in Ljubljana's inner city center, categorized into six main types according to their spatial characteristics. The thesis breaks down five urban block types to the level of spatial placement of measures. In the final part, the application of the proposed framework is tested in more detail on a concrete case study of an urban block in Ljubljana. The urban block surrounding the Old Power Station (Stara mestna elektrarna) in Ljubljana is analyzed and elaborated in detail up to the level of a conceptual landscape architectural design and an evaluation of the existing and proposed conditions. The study cautions that technical greening alone does not guarantee the long-term vitality of an open space unless supported by programming that fosters interaction among residents. The placemaking potential of urban blocks is established through the synergy of physical interventions and deliberate programmatic activation. The framework enables the transferability to different types of urban blocks.
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