Urban Infrastructure Acts Like a Sponge
“The sponge city principle mimics the natural water cycle,” explains Wolfgang Groß. He has worked as an environmental adviser at the BGL – the Bundesverband Garten-, Landschaft- und Sportplatzbau (Federal Association for Garden, Landscape and Sports-Ground Construction) – for 33 years. With the initiative “Grün in die Stadt” (Green into the City), the association also makes the topic tangible for all interested parties; the information platform’s website (in German) offers a wealth of fascinating background information on the sponge city. Alongside his main role, Wolfgang Groß has chaired the BGL’s Urban Development Committee for 15 years and serves on the board of the “Die grüne Stadt” (The Green City) foundation. He goes on to say: “Through targeted measures, such as …
- green roofs and facade greening,
- underground storage tanks,
- swale-infiltration trench systems, and
- surface unsealing,
… urban infrastructure acts like a sponge. The aim of the concept is to prevent urban flash floods during heavy rainfall, to regulate the urban climate during heat periods through natural evaporative cooling, and to recharge local groundwater. What is needed is climate-oriented urban planning, of the kind the BGL describes in its GaLaBau Blog (in German).
Exciting Fields of Work for GaLaBau in the Sponge City
“GaLaBau businesses know their way around earthworks. This expertise is essential if sponge city elements such as infiltration trench systems, swale infiltration areas and surface infiltration zones are to be built.” The expert also points to another fact: “Landscape gardeners are above all professionals when it comes to plant selection. They know which shrubs, perennials and meadow seed mixes are suitable for flood areas. And they equally know which climate-resilient trees can be planted where.”
Information on Funding for Sponge City Projects
Thanks to his extensive network, Wolfgang Groß also has tips on where to find funding for the planning and implementation of sponge city concepts. When projects are planned and implemented in municipalities, landscape gardeners can benefit too. Groß says: “I particularly recommend that smaller municipalities – but also all other cities and communities – looking for funding for planned projects use the online Fördercheck (funding checker, in German) of the ‘Die grüne Stadt’ foundation, which lists federal state funding programmes, further funding options and funding examples. It is also worth taking a look at the website of the Zentrum KlimaAnpassung – Centre for Climate Adaptation (in German), where funding advice is available. Information on funding options is also provided by the Kompetenzzentrum Natürlicher Klimaschutz – Competence Centre for Natural Climate Protection (English) on its website.”
But citizens too can make their contribution to the sponge city – and can often even receive funding for doing so. They can enquire directly with their own municipality. There may be a local funding pot available – for example for the construction of rainwater cisterns or for greening a roof or facade.
