Sustainable City
European metropolises such as Copenhagen, Paris or Oslo are leading by example: they are well on the way to become climate neutral cities. Which concepts does Düsseldorf have in order to follow their lead?
Green roofs are an important measure for a sustainable city. Düsseldorf provides private individuals with up to 20,000 euros in funding.
Even though currently the all-domineering topic is the Coronavirus pandemic, a much bigger problem is lying in wait just around the corner – climate change. Large cities and densely populated urban areas are producing too many emissions – it is past time to reduce this output with highly targeted measures. Sustainable town planning is playing a big role in this this.
The name says it all: The Cradle building in the Media Harbour is built according to the “cradle to cradle” principle, in which individual building elements can be recycled after use.
In Düsseldorf, too, sustainable projects increasingly shape the city’s appearance, like for example the Kö-Bogen 2 at Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz: the eight kilometre long hornbeam hedge consisting of more than 30,000 domestic deciduous trees, designed by the Düsseldorf architect office Ingenhoven Architects, is Europe’s largest green façade. And with the building project The Cradle, which is currently being developed in the Medienhafen and will be Düsseldorf’s first wood-hybrid property, it’s all in the name: the building is being constructed according to the ‘cradle to cradle’ principle, within which certain building elements can be reused after they have been used. This is a development that Thomas Loosen, Head of the Office for Environment and Consumer Protection in Düsseldorf confirms: “In the context of building applications we have observed a trend towards more green and energy efficient building standards.” Through the recently agreed cooperation agreement between the parties CDU and Bündnis 90/die Grünen, the world of politics, too, has made a clear commitment.
“Breaking up sealed surfaces reduces heat stress during the summer, increases the binding of dust and increases humidity.”
Wildflower meadows in the middle of the city provide an important contribution to biodiversity. Among other things, they attract insects, one of the most important foods for birds.
One important measure against climate change is the breaking up of sealed surfaces like schoolyards, which is being conducted under the management of the Office for School Administration in cooperation with the Düsseldorf Community Foundation. “In the following months sealed surfaces like cement or stone floors will be removed from more than a dozen schoolyards and, together with pupils and teachers, will be transformed into blooming insect-friendly meadows and areas of nature,” says Thomas Loosen. One million Euros have been made available – enough to break open a couple of thousand square metres. This doesn’t only contribute to soil preservation, but also promotes quality of life. The evaporation of water improves the micro climate of residential neighbourhoods and optimal conditions for new green areas such as wildflower meadows are being created. This benefits biodiversity and attracts insects, which constitute one of the main foods for birds. Breaking up sealed surfaces, however, can do even more: it reduces heat stress during the summer, increases the binding of dust and increases humidity; the intermediate storage of rainwater on rooftops or in ’green ports’ moreover is meant to ease the burden on the sewerage system, treatment plants and outlet channels.
NRW’s capital depends on the support of its citizens with regards to breaking open sealed surfaces and has therefore created the agenda ‘Dach-, Fassaden- und Innenhofbegrünung’ (DAFIB), which turns private spaces like rooftops, house fronts and courtyards into small green habitats. Düsseldorf’s administration has made grants of up to 20,000 Euros available for each application. According to Thomas Loosen, as of October 2020, Düsseldorf has 2,063,700 square metres of green rooftops or underground parking roof areas. Moreover, an increasing number of building fronts and courtyards are being transformed into green oases within the framework of the funding project.
The company Sipgate has turned a car park into a park: a green and above all sustainable oasis.
However, not only private households but also businesses are rising to the challenge. A good example for this is the telecommunications provider Sipgate, which has turned a parking lot into a green park. “During the current pandemic this yard serves as a fantastic area to retreat to. Everyone can work together outside according to social distancing rules,” enthuses Sigurd Jaiser, member of the extended management of Sipgate GmbH. The Blaue Bude, a kind of kiosk, looks after the physical well-being of employees, clients and guests by providing free drinks and food.
Sipgate ensured that during the actual conversion work every area of construction was sustainable. “We disposed of all the rubble which had been used during the construction of the old car park and replaced it with water permeable tarmac and gravelled areas, through which rainwater can drain without problem,” Jaiser explains. “We paid a lot of attention to materials, used wood from domestic
forests and chose the ones which require the least amount of maintenance with chemical products. We have also focused on achieving biodiversity and have therefore covered everything with bark mulch, within which insects feel comfortable all year round.” A dozen beehives have been added, too, which are responsible for pollination. “There are even separate areas for wasps and bumblebees. Garden landscaping is very complex, which is why we have engaged an expert in the field, who advised us during the planting.” Furthermore the roof of the Blaue Bude was planted and the roofs of the office buildings were furnished with solar panels. Sipgate also endeavours to use sustainable concepts in a number of other areas, which often have a social element, and have already been awarded by Ökoprofit.
Talking of social elements - apart from its green element, sustainability means specifically, that a city is considered worth living in by its occupants and that the centre of attention is occupied by the human and not the car. It also means that Düsseldorf’s citizens are becoming a part of the town planning process, which for example is the case with regards to the development concept Raumwerk D (please see lead article of this edition). When citizens can shape the development of their city, then there is a real chance that, once again, they themselves can become the centre of urban life. •
Words Katja Vaders
Pictures PR, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf / Stefan Wenzel, INTERBODEN Gruppe / HPP, DZ BANK Düsseldorf, Sipgate