1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Berlin (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Projekt Graefekiez - Schrittweise mehr Platz Short description of the intervention Since the 1980s, the Graefekiez neighborhood in Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has been a traffic-calmed area where all road users are treated equally, driving is limited to walking speed, and cars are permitted to stop anywhere. However, this once-progressive concept no longer functions effectively due to the significant increase in cars and delivery vehicles over the years. The streets no longer resemble a traffic-calmed zone, with traditional layouts featuring roadways, sidewalks, and parking spaces. As a result, many users fail to recognize the traffic-calmed nature of the area, leading to safety issues: vehicles drive too fast, delivery traffic causes conflicts, and streets are difficult to navigate safely. Berlin’s transport sector faces the challenge of meeting legally mandated CO₂ reduction targets. Achieving these goals requires bold measures, including limiting private motorized transport (MIV), especially in densely populated areas where residents and visitors have access to alternative modes of transportation. The "Graefekiez" project addresses these challenges through urban redevelopment aimed at improving livability and promoting sustainable urban mobility. Car parking has been banned from the streets, freeing up space for communal use such as lounge areas. As part of the "Graefekiez" project, the district office is converting parking spaces into green spaces and expanding tree disks to adapt to the climate and promote a sponge city. The project was developed collaboratively with residents and NGOs through a participatory process led by the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office, in partnership with the Berlin Social Science Center and Paper Planes e.V. Implementation began in 2023 on Graefestraße and Bockhstraße.After a six-month trial period, the district office decided in 2024 to make the measures permanent. This initiative advances a safer, greener, inclusive urban environment while meeting climate and community goals. (Ref. 1, 2, 3) Website of the intervention https://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter… Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Urban flooding (stormwater) Land use and Socio-economic change Rapid urbanization Other Please specify other principal problem High traffic load in urban spaces Implementation area characterization Climate Continental (Cold-summer humid continental, Cold-winter dry continental, Cold-summer dry continental) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Graefestraße/Bockhstraße 10967 Berlin 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 (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image Source: District Office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (Berlin) https://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter/strassen-und-gruenflaechenamt/strassen/mobilitaetswende/artikel.1428814.php Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Roads / Roadsides Residential Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2022 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2023 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention To create a traffic-calmed sector . To increase the recreational quality and usage of streets and sidewalks for citizens . To improve pedestrian safety and ensure safer school routes . To create seepage areas (a designated zone where rainwater or other surface water is allowed to infiltrate into the ground rather than running off into storm drains or waterways) and green areas for rainwater and enhance the city's resilience to climate change . To involve citizens in a participatory process to design the area and repurpose free parking spaces. To meet the legally required CO₂ reduction targets in the foreseeable future. (Ref. 1, 3, 5) Key Priorities Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation) Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Climate change mitigation Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Regeneration, land-use and urban development Regulation of built environment Water management (SDG 6) Stormwater and rainfall management and storage Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16) Inclusive governance Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social justice and equity Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater Other Please specify "other Climate change mitigation activity" Limit private motorised transport to help with CO₂ reduction (3) Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Other Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The Roads and Green Spaces Department is implementing measures based on a resolution passed by the District Assembly in June 2022. Over the summer and autumn of 2023, new uses for the core area—parts of Böckhstrasse and Graefestrasse—were tested through a participatory process. The most extensive redesign took place on Böckhstrasse, where most car parking spaces were gradually repurposed. Some areas were unsealed for ecological benefits, while others were remodeled for alternative uses. Loading and delivery zones were established where needed, and several parklets were created. Improvements for pedestrians and barrier-free design, such as pavement extensions, were also implemented. Residents and users participated in discussions about how the freed-up parking spaces in the core area could be utilized and contributed ideas for scaling similar measures across the Graefekiez. Business owners provided input on optimal locations for delivery and loading zones. These participation formats, alongside other research activities, informed the process. In a second phase, the WZB (Berlin Social Science Center) will use the insights to develop an open space concept for the entire Graefekiez, which will then be presented to the District Assembly (BVV). In 2024, the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office recommended making these measures permanent beyond the initial six-month trial period (Ref. 1, 3). Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of any other green urban spaces 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Green areas for water management Sustainable urban drainage systems Other Grey infrastructure featuring greens Alley or street trees and other street vegetation Please specify "other green areas for water management" Seepage areas resulted from de-sealing (1) Please specify "other Climate change adaptation activity" Unsealing of surfaces to manage stormwater Amenities offered by the NBS Benches and drinking water stations Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Carbon storage/sequestration Flood regulation Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The Graefekiez neighbourhood in Berlin-Kreuzberg is an inner-city area with just under 19,000 inhabitants. With over 21,000 inhabitants per square kilometre, the Graefekiez is an extremely densely populated area (Berlin: 4,349 per square kilometre). 46% of its residents have a diverse ethnic background and the number of recipients of basic security benefits (aged 65 and over) is 17%, well above the Berlin average (Berlin: 5.7 per cent). The Graefekiez is, therefore by no means one of the economically prosperous areas in the city and its social structure makes it one of the poorer neighbourhoods in Berlin. (Ref. 5) Socio-economic profile of the area Mixed income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Specify primary beneficiaries "The aim is more reliability for everyone: from residents to courier services to rubbish collection. They should all benefit from the new room layout. This should make everyday life more relaxed for everyone." (Ref. 1) "[...] around 25 per cent [of residents] see traffic as a problem that needs to be solved, particularly with regard to older people and children." (Ref. 4) Marginalized groups Children, young people or youth groups Elderly people People with functional diversities Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups Planning workshops with elderly people and people with functional diversities were conducted. Constructions for playing on the streets were co-designed with children and instruments that lower one's perspective were distributed to help residents (adults) envision the street view for children and consider their security. (Ref. 3) Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Government-led Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative With this project, the Roads and Green Spaces Department is implementing a resolution passed by the District Assembly (BVV). The traffic measures are the responsibility of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office, which is in charge of roads and green spaces. It is responsible for all construction and traffic-related measures. Research and participation are carried out independently of the district by external parties. Scientific support is provided by the Berlin Social Science Centre (WZB) and their partners. paper planes e.V. is responsible for citizen and local business participation in co-operation with other partners such as NaturFreunde Berlin e.V. and Berlin 21 e.V. (Ref. 1) Specialised workshops integrated elderly, people with disabilities and school children (Ref. 3) The participation activities and research work associated with the Graefekiez project are financed by third-party funds raised by the participating institutes. (Ref. 1) Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Local government/municipality Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Researchers/university Private sector/corporate actor/company Stages of citizen and community engagement Planning and design (e.g. site selection, identification of key priorities) Decision-making among different alternative plans Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Creation of collaborative decision-making processes that actively involve community members Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping) Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling) Dissemination of information and education Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Co-management/Joint management Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Community & Social Groups Elderly population or elderly rights associations Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a 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" This is an implementation of a resolution passed by the district council on June 29, 2022 (Ref. 2). This calls on the district authority to ‘carry out a field trial in the Graefekiez neighbourhood to redesign the public space’. (Ref. 1) Relevant strategy or plan Urban redevelopment plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Mandatory (based on policy) Intervention is mandatory Spatial planning guidance Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. Scientific support is provided by the Berlin Social Science Centre (WZB) and their partners. paper planes e.V. is responsible for citizen and local business participation in co-operation with other partners such as NaturFreunde Berlin e.V. and Berlin 21 e.V, as well as the city of Berlin (Ref. 1) Governace and decison-making instruments Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans) Public - community agreement (e.g. citizen science programs; citizen assemblies) Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP)) Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers Soil pollution lead to postponent of implementation of green spaces: "An initial test sample of the soil in Graefestraße has revealed contamination in the subsoil. However, the soil needs to be free of contamination for greening. Grid sampling will now clarify the degree and exact distribution of the contamination so that the disposal of the relevant material can then be commissioned. [...] The start of construction for the unsealing planned for June has been postponed by up to four weeks as a result." (Ref. 3) Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) The costs for the measures implemented by the district authority amount to 112,759€. (Ref. 5) What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? 112,759€ (5) Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Public regional budget Research organisation / University Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services) Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of land Provision of expertise Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Green densification model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Climate change Enhanced carbon sequestration Expected enhanced carbon sequestration Water management and blue areas Improved stormwater management Expected improved stormwater management Green space and habitat Increased green space area Expected increased green space area Increased number of species present Expected increased number of species present Description of environmental benefits --Expected enhanced carbon sequestration: "The transport sector will not be able to meet the legally required CO2 savings targets in the foreseeable future . More extensive measures are therefore needed as quickly as possible . An effective climate policy requires a limitation of private motorised transport (MIV), especially where there is high settlement pressure and residents and visitors have sufficient alternatives at their disposal. " (Ref. 2) --Expected improved stormwater management: "The measures are intended to adapt to the climate and to develop towards a sponge city." (Ref. 1) --Expected increased green space area: " As part of the "Graefekiez" project, the district office is converting parking spaces into small green spaces in the street land and expanding tree disks (this is the area around the base of the trunk of the street tree)." (ref. 1) --Expected increased number of species present: "At the request of residents and initiatives in the neighborhood who want to plant climate-resilient plants in the open spaces and neighborhood terraces on Graefestrasse and Böckhstrasse, Straße der Zukunft is organizing this workshop." (Ref. 1) Economic impacts Unknown Description of economic benefits Unknown Social and cultural impacts Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise Safety Increased perception of safety Expected increased perception of safety Please specify other socio-cultural impact Improved traffic security Improved recreational opportunities in urban spaces Description of social and cultural benefits --Expected increased perception of safety: "The traffic-calmed area is more clearly recognisable, sight lines have been improved, the unsealed surfaces act as green infrastructure and the Jelbi stations that have been set up lead to significantly fewer sharing vehicles on the pavements." (Ref. 3); "Visual connections and safe road use have been significantly improved by creating the neighbourhood terraces, unsealed surfaces and bicycle stands." (Ref. 5) --Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "The recreational function in the core area of the project was significantly strengthened." (Ref. 3) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts Citizens or community group Researchers/university Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Outcome indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports Yes Link to monitoring/evaluation reports https://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter… Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.) Community forums for information sharing and encouraging the participation of marginalized groups Clear communication channels for stakeholders to provide feedback, raise concerns, and ask questions about the project Online disclosure of technical reports (e.g. project documents, reports, or data) Justice Community satisfaction Mixed: Feedback and reports show a combination of positive and negative sentiments regarding satisfaction with the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project Qualitative surveys were used to record and evaluate the attitudes of the population before the start of the construction work. The majority support the district's plans, but there are also reservations and many things are still unfamiliar. The surveys are to be continued this year and next. The majority welcomes free spaces, but doubts remain whether they can be used productively for their own needs. Fears of a further increase in gentrification, as well as the fear of more noise and more trash due to tourist use, remain on the agenda. Nevertheless, the results so far make it clear that the planned measures, some of which are currently being implemented, have met with a positive response, even though many people are still not entirely sure what the new city could look like in the end. (Ref. 4) On the hand, people who work in the project are but don't live there do not support the measure as they struggle with deliveries and partially commute to work by car. (Ref. 6) Trade-offs & Negative impacts Other Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected Since the free public parking spots in the street are being redesigned, car owners can park their cars at different locations further away, or in a close-by parking garage but must pay monthly rent. (Ref. 1) Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) Yes Goal setting and impacts delivery No, although benefits were delivered in all the 3 key areas, but in the planning phase, the project did not aim to address issues in all the 3 key priority areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Please specify the achievements of the project goals Climate action: --Expected enhanced carbon sequestration: "The transport sector will not be able to meet the legally required CO2 savings targets in the foreseeable future . More extensive measures are therefore needed as quickly as possible . An effective climate policy requires a limitation of private motorised transport (MIV), especially where there is high settlement pressure and residents and visitors have sufficient alternatives at their disposal. " (Ref. 2) --Expected improved stormwater management: "The measures are intended to adapt to the climate and to develop towards a sponge city." (Ref. 1) --Expected increased green space area: " As part of the "Graefekiez" project, the district office is converting parking spaces into small green spaces in the street land and expanding tree disks (this is the area around the base of the trunk of the street tree)." (ref. 1) --Expected increased number of species present: "At the request of residents and initiatives in the neighborhood who want to plant climate-resilient plants in the open spaces and neighborhood terraces on Graefestrasse and Böckhstrasse, Straße der Zukunft is organizing this workshop." (Ref. 1) Social justice and community: --Expected increased perception of safety: "The traffic-calmed area is more clearly recognisable, sight lines have been improved, the unsealed surfaces act as green infrastructure and the Jelbi stations that have been set up lead to significantly fewer sharing vehicles on the pavements." (Ref. 3); "Visual connections and safe road use have been significantly improved by creating the neighbourhood terraces, unsealed surfaces and bicycle stands." (Ref. 5) --Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "The recreational function in the core area of the project was significantly strengthened." (Ref. 3) Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Technical change (e.g. built infrastructure of cities and their parts, roads, buildings and so on) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. District Office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (n.d.). Projekt Graefekiez - Schrittweise mehr Platz. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. District Office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (n.d.). Drucksache - DS/0154/VI . Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. District Office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (n.d.). Neuigkeiten zum Projekt Graefekiez. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Knie, A. & Pfaff, T. (2023). Berliner Graefekiez bereits auf dem Weg zur Verkehrswende. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (2024). Projekt Graefekiez Projektbericht des WZB an das Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg . Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Grünberg, K. (2022). Wem gehört die Straße?. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Additional insights Funding for the implemented measures was only possible thanks to the Senate's special urban beautification programme, which was unfortunately discontinued after 2023. There are no funds available for the continuation of this project in either the district or state budgets. There is also no prospect of funding for further measures due to the new Senate administration's changed prioritisation and corresponding savings targets. (Ref. 5) Public Images Image Graefekiez project https://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter/strassen-und-gruenflaechenamt/strassen/mobilitaetswende/artikel.1428814.php Image Redesigned street in the Graefekiez Phillipp Böhme Image The project opens up gardening spots where previsouly cars were parking tagesschau
Image Graefekiez project https://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter/strassen-und-gruenflaechenamt/strassen/mobilitaetswende/artikel.1428814.php
