1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Nürnberg
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Die Versuchsanlage zur Begrünung von Fassaden
Short description of the intervention
The experimental green facade system consisting of four different types of green wall was installed in Nurnberg from 2013 until 2016 on Adolf-Braun-Strasse 33 and is an integrated greening system that enables self-sufficient, low-maintenance "hanging gardens" on facades and other vertical walls. The aim of the project is to experiment with recreating green spaces in the streets, asphalt surfaces, and backyards of some parts of Nuremberg overcoming numerous constraints and competing uses (1) The implementation has helped improve air quality, thermal insulation, wind and rain protection and lowering local temperatures in its proximity. (2)
Address

Adolf-Braun-Straße 33
Nurnberg
Germany

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Website of the intervention
https://www.lwg.bayern.de/landespflege/urbanes_gruen/090685/index.php
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2013
End date of the intervention
2016
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. To study the possibilities of installation of the green facade systems in the free spaces of Nurnberg and to become as a decision-making aid for the city of Nuremberg in establishing vertical green roofs for future construction measures. (1, 4)
2. To reveal types of biotopes that are the most suitable for Nurnberg climate (1)
3. To increase the amount of green space in Nurnberg and thus increase aesthetic appreciation (1)
4. To introduce a tool for natural cooling of the area in densely built areas and improving thermal insulation of buildings (2)
5. To decrease the noise effects in the area (2)
6. To improve the air quality (2)
7. To provide protection from wind and rain (2)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Temperature reduction in °C (4, 5)
2. Water consumption per square meter (4, 5)
3. Electricity consumption per square meter (4, 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Noise reduction
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Build resilience
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat
Implementation activities
Four green walls of different systems were installed on the wall of the City Drainage and Environmental Analysis Nuremberg (Stadtentwässerung and Umweltanalytik Nürnberg) (2)
These systems were:
1. Humko von Wolf: plastic panels with plant openings and substrate
2. Vertiko: aluminum composite panel with fleece pockets and substrate
3. 90 degree: fiber mat on carrier plate with fleece pockets and no substrate
4. Fassadengrün von Optirün: aluminum square grid with plant openings and substrate (4, 5)
Type of NBS project
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Please specify other type of green wall
These systems were:
1. Humko von Wolf: plastic panels with plant openings and substrate
2. Vertiko: aluminum composite panel with fleece pockets and substrate
3. 90 degree: fiber mat on carrier plate with fleece pockets and no substrate
4. Fassadengrün von Optirün: aluminum square grid with plant openings and substrate (4, 5)
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green walls or facades
Type of Green Wall
Climbing façades
Substrate / soil-based living wall
Other
Please specify "other Climate change adaptation activity"

Vegetation Type
Other
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Other
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Please specify "other regulating service"
Thermal insulation, wind and rain protection (2)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project was local government led and initiated. Other partners of the project are the City of Nuremberg Environment department, the association Grünclusiv e.V. Nuremberg, the municipal drainage company, and the association Fachvereinigung Bauwerksbegünung e.V. The project receives funding from the Bavaria State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry. (2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Private sector or company
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
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"
The project is developed within the initiative "Facade greening: Gardens on the walls of Nuremberg" ("Fassadenbegrünung: Gärten an Nürnbergs Wänden") of the Nuremberg Environment Service (Umweltreferat Nürnberg), City Drainage and Environmental Analysis Nuremberg (Stadtentwässerung and Umweltanalytik Nürnberg (Sun)) and Grünclusiv e.V. Manufacturers (1)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The project is developed within the initiative "Facade greening: Gardens on the walls of Nuremberg" ("Fassadenbegrünung: Gärten an Nürnbergs Wänden") of the Nuremberg Environment Service (Umweltreferat Nürnberg), City Drainage and Environmental Analysis Nuremberg (Stadtentwässerung and Umweltanalytik Nürnberg (Sun)) and Grünclusiv e.V. Manufacturers (1)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Please specify other vegetation type
herbaceous perennial plants, evergreen perennial flowering plants, ornamental plants (5)
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
Yes
Please specify
The project was inspired by the "Feasibility Study on Vertical Gardens at the Palmengarten Frankfurt / Main". Three systems ("Humko", "Vertiko", "Optigrün") that were installed and tested in Nurnberg are almost identical to the Frankfurt project, which was completed in May 2014 after one year of the experiment (3)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project was subsidised through the Bayern Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2)
Co-finance for NBS
No
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
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
unknown
Please specify cost savings
unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
unknown
Source(s) of funding
Public regional budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Risk reduction model
Green education model
Please specify other environmental impact
Improved thermal insulation and protection from rain and wind (2)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The test green areas were installed on a ventilated façade on a solid substructure, which is anchored in the load-bearing wall. The wall contains different fleece-laminated cassettes, formed of aluminum mesh or plastic, filled with substrate. An irrigation system is integrated and is supplied and monitored via a small supply station with water and fertilizer. Depending on the orientation and requirements, the modules are planted differently (1)
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
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Reduced noise exposure
Improved protection against strong wind
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Other
Description of environmental benefits
According to the municipality of Nürnberg, temperature in the space surrounding the green facade stabilized during the period of the project. (3) The vertical greens improved air quality, thermal insulation, wind and rain protection and lowered local temperatures. The walls also helped absorb sound and thus reduce noise impact of the buildings they were locate on. (2) The amount of green space in the area increased without having to sacrifice large areas for green space. (3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Description of social and cultural benefits
Support of environmental research: The project made the comparison of 4 greening systems in terms of efficiency and economy possible. (4) Three systems ("Humko", "Vertiko", "Optigrün") that were installed and tested in Nurnberg are almost identical to the Frankfurt project, which was completed in May 2014 after one year of the experiment (3)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. Temperature in the space surrounding the green facade stabilized during the year (4)
2. The amount of green space in the area increased (4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Environmental quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Not applicable, as the project was terminated in 2016
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/vertikalesgr%C3%BCn_n%…
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
https://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/vertikales_gruen_zukun…
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Comparison of four commercially available systems with regard to performance and profitability. Testing of types of climbing plants for floor-bound façade greening on noise barriers as well as a comparison of modular systems for wall-bound façade greening with regard to performance and economy as a decision-making aid for developers to establish vertical greening in future urban settlements (2)
Link to the output of assessments
https://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/vertikalesgr%C3%BCn_n%…
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
No
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
No
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Fassadenbegrünung: Gärten an Nürnbergs Wänden
Vertikales Grün: Begrünung mit System(en)
Vertikales Grün – Zukunft oder Luftnummer?
List of references
1. Stadtportal Nürnberg (2013). Fassadenbegrünung: Gärten an Nürnbergs Wänden. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].
2. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau. (nd.) Vertikales Grün: Begrünung mit Systemen. [online]. Available at: https://www.lwg.bayern.de/landespflege/urbanes_gruen/090685/index.php [Accessed: 28 Sept. 2020].
3. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau. (nd.) Vertikales Grün – Zukunft oder Luftnummer? [online]. Available at: https://www.lwg.bayern.de/landespflege/gartendokumente/fachartikel/138161/index.php [Accessed: 28 Sept. 2020].
4. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau. (2014). Symposium zum Modellversuch Vertikalbegrünung. Available at: https://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/vertikalesgr%C3%BCn_n%C3%BCrnberg__min.pdf [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2020].
5. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau. (2016). Vertikales GrünZukunft oder Luftnummer?. Veitshöchheim: Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau Abteilung Landespflege. Available at: https://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/vertikales_gruen_zukunft_in.pdf [Accessed: 29 Sept. 2020].
Additional comments
No information about the size of any of the walls was found.
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/fittosize_600_0_4f6bc8b4318c64422754391d3b79efdb_vertikales_gruen_galerie3.jpg
Public Images
Facade Greening
Facade Greening
Photographer: Christine Dierenbach, retrieved 09/20/2018 from Data Exchange Service (City of Nürnberg)
Facade Greening
Facade Greening
Photographer: Christine Dierenbach, retrieved 09/20/2018 from Data Exchange Service (City of Nürnberg)