1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Augsburg
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Hofgarten
Short description of the intervention
The Hofgarten is a green area in the old town of Augsburg. It is part of the former prince-bishop's residence rebuilt in the 18th century and was built between 1739 and 1744 by Johann Caspar Bagnato (Ref. 1). The park was reconstructed in 2006 providing a barrier-free access to the park for disabled people (Ref. 2).
Address

Fronhof
86152 Augsburg
Germany

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (10.893455623413 48.372580039541)
POINT (10.893034057496 48.372198949428)
POINT (10.893555878792 48.371789058534)
POINT (10.894039327049 48.372300872647)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Earth Pro (November 3, 2020). Coordinates offer a rough approximation of extent of NBS.
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofgarten_%28Augsburg%29
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2001
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2002
End date of the intervention
2006
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. Create a barrier-free access to green environment for disabled people (Ref. 2)
2. Regeneration and enhancement of Augsburg green infrastructure (Ref. 2)
3. Recreational facilities for all (Ref. 2)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social justice and equity
Social cohesion
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Implementation activities
1. Infrastructure for wheelchair users introduced (Ref. 2)
2. Fixation, preservation and enhancement of historically formed green infrastructure of the park (Ref. 2)
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Vegetation Type
Trees
Flower beds
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Stone baroque dwarfs, a small bookcase "open library" (Ref. 2).
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Marginalized groups
People with functional diversities
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
"In 1817 it became the property of the Kingdom of Bavaria , the courtyard garden was renewed in 1878 and again in 1898. The city of Augsburg has rented the Hofgarten since 1963. In 1964/65 it was renovated and opened to the citizens of Augsburg. From 2002 to 2005 another renovation took place. Since August 2006, disabled people have also been able to access all areas of the facility via three new ramps via the east entrance.

The city pays only 55 euros annually for the Hofgarten until 2032. To this end, she invests around 50,000 euros annually in the maintenance of the garden, the fountain, the paths and the entrance stairs" (Ref. 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Other
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Other
Please specify other land owner
"In 1817 it became the property of the Kingdom of Bavaria , the courtyard garden was renewed in 1878 and again in 1898. The city of Augsburg has rented the Hofgarten since 1963...The city pays only 55 euros annually for the Hofgarten until 2032" (Ref. 1).
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Please specify other landowner
"In 1817 it became the property of the Kingdom of Bavaria , the courtyard garden was renewed in 1878 and again in 1898. The city of Augsburg has rented the Hofgarten since 1963...The city pays only 55 euros annually for the Hofgarten until 2032" (Ref. 1).
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
According to Augsburg development plans, the areas for recreation should have been extended from 61,084 ha in 2002 to 62,691 ha in 2009 (Ref. 3).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning law
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project is realized within the Augsburg Biotope Protection Program (Ref. 3).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Please specify other vegetation type
"In the courtyard garden you can admire tulip trees, gingko trees, hibiscus bushes, wisteria, beds with all kinds of flowers, rose hedges and box hedges and pyramids. There is also a water lily pond that is home to ornamental fish and European turtles. Next to the water lily pond, a large pool catches the invigorating fountain of a fountain" (Ref. 2).
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The town invests around 50,000 euros annually in the maintenance of the garden, the well, the paths and the entrance steps (Ref. 1).
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
150 000 EUR
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
55 000 EUR
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Total costs of the project comprised approx. of 150 000 euro (Ref. 1). "The city of Augsburg pays only 55 euros a year rent for the garden, but it spends around 55,000 euros to preserve the garden gem" (Ref. 1).
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green health model
Green heritage model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
Inclusive regeneration scheme was introduced in the garden for the first time throughout its history (Ref. 2). The scheme assumed the introduction of proper infrastructure for disabled people who previously did not have a comfortable access to the park.
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Description of environmental benefits
Green space and habitat:
-Increased green space: After the Second World War, the courtyard garden was used as an orchard (until it was redesigned in 1964). The city of Augsburg has rented the courtyard garden since 1963 and takes care of the maintenance of the garden, the maintenance and the building fabric. From 1964 to 1965 the facility was completely redesigned (Ref. 2).
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Description of social and cultural benefits
Social justice and cohesion:
-Improved access to urban green space: "In 1817 the Hofgarten became the property of the Kingdom of Bavaria. In 1878 the facilities in the western part were renewed, in 1889 the eastern part was renovated. After the Second World War, the courtyard garden was used as an orchard (until it was redesigned in 1964). The city of Augsburg has rented the courtyard garden since 1963 and takes care of the maintenance of the garden, the maintenance and the building fabric. From 1964 to 1965 the facility was completely redesigned. Then it was opened to all citizens in 1965, because before that it was not accessible and belonged to the Prince-Bishop's Residence . The beds, the water lily pond and the fountain that can be admired today date from the 1960s" (Ref. 2).
-Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalized groups or indigenous peoples: barrier-free access to green environment was created for disabled people (Ref. 2).

Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "It is hidden from prying eyes by a wall and shielded from the noise of the surrounding streets. Green pyramid trees lead the visitor into the interior of the garden. The scent of roses accompanies the way to the large water basin in the courtyard garden, where a fountain splashes. On the surface of the pond you can see water lilies swimming, in the pool you can watch ornamental fish and turtles. Metal chairs around the pond offer young and old enough seats for a pleasant lunch break or relaxation phase in the middle of the big city" (Ref. 2).

Cultural heritage and sense of place:
-Protection of natural heritage/Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure: The historic green area was restored and maintained (Ref. 2). The historic green area became accessible for all social groups, including disabled people (Ref. 2). Both the environmental and cultural value of the park increased (Ref. 2). "In addition to plants and animals, the Augsburg court garden also houses five sandstone dwarf figures. The baroque sculptures created by Johann Wolfgang Schindel in 1744/45 were placed in the Wittelsbacherpark in 1963" (Ref. 2).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
No specific information available as of November 3, 2020. Augsburg entered a partial second lockdown on October 30, 2020: "Due to the high incidence figures in Augsburg, the nationwide and Bavaria-wide measures in the Augsburg city area have been in effect since Friday, October 30th, 9 p.m. A maximum of 2 households can meet. Catering establishments are only allowed to sell to-go.

In addition, the following three regulations apply in the urban area:
Extended mask requirement in the city area (inner city area, playgrounds, main traffic axes, areas on the Wertach, Kuhsee and Hochablass)
Ban on alcohol consumption from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the entire public space
Retail businesses and public institutions: Disinfectant dispensers must be used at the entrance".
Available at: https://www.augsburg.de/umwelt-soziales/gesundheit/coronavirus/vor-infektionen-schuetzen
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Online Forum
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Citizen evaluation of the results of the restoration found at the community blogs:
https://www.yelp.de/biz/hofgarten-augsburg?utm_campaign=qype_de&utm_source=%28direct%29
and
https://www.myheimat.de/augsburg/kultur/ruheoase-in-der-stadt-der-fronhof-mit-hofgarten-d2763526.html
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Hofgarten (Augsburg)
Hofgarten
List of references
1. Wikipedia (2016). Hofgarten (Augsburg). Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofgarten_%28Augsburg%29 (Accessed: November 3, 2020).
2. Augsburg Wiki (n.d.). Hofgarten. Available at: https://www.augsburgwiki.de/index.php/AugsburgWiki/Hofgarten#Hofgarten (Accessed: November 3, 2020).
Comments and notes
Comments
*Ref. 3 that is referenced in section 4 was not listed upon original publication. A source with this information cannot be located as of November 3, 2020.
Public Images
Entrance to the Hofgarten (2015)
Entrance to the Hofgarten (2015)
Photographer: Anette Vedder, retrieved 08/15/2018
Interior of the Hofgarten (2015)
Interior of the Hofgarten (2015)
Photographer: Anette Vedder, retrieved 08/15/2018
Interior of the Hofgarten (2015)
Interior of the Hofgarten (2015)
Photographer: Anette Vedder, retrieved 08/15/2018