Adenauerplatz Sponge city project

The Adenauerplatz sponge city project in Friedrichshafen was created under our construction management. The planning was done by k1 Landschaftsarchitekten in Berlin.



The redesign of the square, which is centrally located in downtown Friedrichshafen, shows how we can adapt our urban spaces to climate change with relatively simple means. Measures such as unsealing the urban soil, retaining rainwater and cooling through targeted shading and evaporation are essential components of the transformation of urban heat islands.



The new climate grove blends harmoniously into the existing cityscape. 19 climate-resilient trees of different species now enrich the cityscape and the urban climate of Friedrichshafen.



WATER POND

The newly planted grove conceals the technical structure of a tree trench, which can collect rainwater with a capacity of approx. 50 cubic meters. The infiltration trench has made it possible to delay the runoff of masses of rainwater during heavy rainfall and thus prevent flooding. Thanks to the storage function, the water can also be retained for vegetation during dry periods.



STAY QUALITY

To increase the quality of stay, the former heat island Adenauerplatz has been given new tree and shrub plantings to provide cooling and shade. Despite the new greenery, the urban functions of the square have been retained, in particular its market function. With two steps, the new grove with three different climate-tolerant tree species stands out from the surrounding square area and thus accentuates the western area of the square. The trees form a green canopy of shade, under which a new meeting place for citizens and visitors to the city has been created with its mobile seating. To the north and south are visually appealing perennial gardens with a variety of flowering aspects and additional seating.



The water-bound surface layer installed in the grove was designed with resource conservation and sustainability in mind. Regionally available materials were used without long transportation routes. The special construction method with a plant-based binder additive ensures a stable grain structure even under conditions of use, so that the surface is comfortable to walk on, while at the same time maintaining the pore volume and structure that is important for tree growth and drainage. The resulting high infiltration capacity of the material ensures that the rainwater reaches the underground tree trench and does not just run off on the surface.