The CLEVER Way: Hamburg, Neugraben-Fischbek

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The CLEVER Cities project has established three primary CALs in the south-west part of Hamburg which covers an area of ca. 220 76ha width approx. CAL1 is dedicated to the Green Corridor, CAL2 focuses on Green Roofs and Facades in the existing quarters in Neugraben-Fischbek, and CAL3 is centered around the schoolyards in 3 different schools in the project area. All three CALs have performed their tasks efficiently in spite of a number of difficulties, such as political and bureaucratic roadblocks, pandemic-related limitations, and unanticipated limitations in the building industry. The co-creation, co-design, co-implementation, and monitoring pathways outlined by CLEVER Cities were adhered to by each CAL.

• CAL 1: Green Corridor

Urban Greening Projects: CAL1 includes a range of ‘stepping stones'-style urban greening initiatives.

Vision of the Green Corridor: The connective 'Green Corridor' in NF creates spot-like interventions that connect two nature conservation areas, Moorgürtel in the north and Fischbeker Heide in the south.

Enhancement of Biodiversity: By putting policies in place such as qualifying green spaces, orchard meadows, and diverse flower meadows, the green interventions help to increase the biodiversity of urban areas and promote biodiversity in the region.

Social impacts: These interventions enhanced biodiversity, fostered the rebirth and unity of the Fischbek and Neugraben neighborhoods.

Place-Specific Interventions: Trail connections with wild bee hotels, nesting aids, temporary gardens with refugees, bee-friendly shrub gardens for seniors are the various interventions that involved various groups in community building and co-creation.

Overall, CAL1 connects nature conservation areas and promotes community cohesion and engagement in urban areas through the development of green interventions that improve biodiversity and have social benefits.

Key Aspects emphasizing diverse interventions and stimuli:

1. Diverse Interventions and Objectives: 

• NbS with small-scale site-specific objectives are put into place throughout the CLEVER Corridor with an emphasis on improving biodiversity, establishing green connections, and offering livable spaces to locals.

• Through partnerships, such as the provision of climate-resilient tree species by local foundations and long-term visions by the local initiative WerkHus, additional resources are facilitated.

2. Engagement and Co-Design Process: 

• Actor motivation and engagement (e.g., voluntary sponsorship, gardening group formation) are critical to the co-design process's success.

• Following the pandemic, attempts were made to activate Urban Intervention Points (UIPs), which brought locals together through support group meetings, district council festivals, citizen councils, and larger events.

3. Core Approaches and Co-design:

In order to include a variety of stakeholders, spark community activity, the co-design process in CAL1 made use of a number of formats and methods:

• Workshops: A tool for defining project milestones, bringing together a variety of stakeholders, and talking about design solutions. In particular, vulnerable groups.

• On-site Walks/Tours: By setting up outdoor co-design activities in recognisable settings, stakeholders gain a better understanding of projects and forge local connections that aided in project development.

• Modeling and hands-on design: Getting kids involved in making real designs helped them grasp the impact of the project and develop their creativity.

• Online Tools: Participation was made possible through digital platforms, though the success of each approach varied according to the project and level of audience involvement.

• Social media platforms: They educated and engaged the public, their working relied on how relevant the content was to the users.

• Neighborhood Events: Crucial for project advancement, recognising stakeholder input, and commemorating successes. These community-wide events involved a variety of groups and ranged from co-design to implementation and inauguration.

• Bilateral and Multilateral Exchanges: Timely exchanges and decision-making processes by regular partner meetings and phone calls.

• CAL 2: Green Roofs / Green Facades

1. Goal and Vision:

• By adding green roofs to already-existing structures, CAL2 adds more horizontal greenery. 

• This being in line with the Hamburg Green Roof strategy increases the amount of money available for smaller-scale roof greening projects, such as those the size of carports.

• CAL2 links existing quarters with newly constructed residential areas in Neugraben-Fischbek, facilitated the creation of additional public green spaces for leisure and recreation, and integrated these spaces into already-existing green networks.

2. Objectives and Challenges:

• Green roofs reduce the impact of stormwater runoff on nearby infrastructure and to lessen the local heat island effect.

• Nevertheless, despite all of the advantages, individual building owners and housing companies initially showed very little interest in these green initiatives.

3. Expansion to Vertical Greenery:

• Owing to the lack of interest in green roofs, CAL2 covers green noise barriers and façades projects. Nevertheless, stakeholders' interest in these vertical gardening initiatives are minimal

4. Shift to Rain-/Stormwater Management:

• CAL2 focuses on rain- and stormwater management projects in order to address location-specific drainage problems, creating a Drainage Analysis for Heavy Rainfall for Neugraben-Fischbek.

5. Implementation of NbS Solutions:

• Two NbS solutions found in the Drainage Analysis are put into practise with CLEVER's assistance.

• A Blue-Green Roof managed by a smart app and other cutting-edge stormwater-related pilot or research projects are included in CAL2.

Co-design processes in CAL2:

1. Less complex co-design compared to CAL1:

• CAL2's co-design processes have lower participation levels and possibly less holistic approaches than CAL1, in particular the rainwater management solutions are more technical, necessitating expert knowledge and less community involvement.

2. Challenges in Establishing UIP and focus area changes:

• The shift in CAL2's focus areas from green roofs to green facades and then rainwater management projects establishes the Urban Intervention Point (UIP) at the CAL level.

3. Diverse Methods and Approaches for Co-design:

• Diverse techniques customized to each NbS solution are employed in co-design processes including - reconsidering co-design procedures for engineering construction projects with local stakeholders, collaborating with the Triple Helix (academia, planning offices, and public administration).

4. Challenges and Adaptive Approaches:

• Increased improvisation and ad hoc co-design processes resulted from obstacles like project kick-start delays, uncertainty surrounding project realization, and time constraints.

5. Variations in Co-design Approaches:

• Information letters and post-implementation feedback forms are the main means of obtaining citizen engagement.

• To observe and collect feedback on tree growth after implementation, digital tools such as QR codes are set.

• CAL 3: Schoolyards

CAL3 reconnects the younger generation with nature and to concentrate on environmental education, so the school yards for Ohrnsweg, Neugraben Elementary School, and Fischbek-Falkenberg District School were redesigned. The plan is to include school garden solutions for hands-on instruction in food production, gardening, and sustainability. The advantages of the initiative encourage physical activity and a healthier lifestyle while fostering environmental stewardship, work ethics, and a sense of responsibility.

Objectives, Challenges and collaborative efforts taken by CAL3 to foster environmental education and engagement with nature among the young generation:

• Mobile Raised Garden Solutions: Implemented due to the changing timeline for school yard restructuring at the elementary schools; involve active participation from pupils, parents, teachers, and university students. 

• Challenges Due to Pandemic: Closure of schools highlighted the need for alternative environmental education sources beyond school settings.

• Partnership with Loki-Schmidt Foundation: Collaboration to find 20 local cooperation partners, focusing on youth centres, kindergartens, and other educational institutions.

• Initiatives Undertaken: Transformation of lawn areas into flower meadows, installation of custom bee hotels to promote urban biodiversity.

• Educational Offerings: Customized workshops, community monitoring, a photo competition, colorful information material, and 'nature walks' aiming to provide valuable environmental education and experiences to the targeted audience of CAL3.

 Co-design methods in CAL3:

The co-design strategies in CAL3 prioritize collaboration with educational institutions, youth, and schools; Including swapping the monoculture lawn into the flower meadow' project. There were many challenges faced during the pandemic by the co-creation methods.

Despite its limitations, the "Researchers' Garden" model at Fischbek-Falkenberg allows for a streamlined co-design process because it was developed before the pandemic. It emphasizes a holistic approach, fostering learning on all sides, and involves teachers, experts, and CLEVER partners.

Ohrnsweg and Neugraben also experimented with mobile school gardens. A bottom-up strategy that involves local carpenters and workshops to boost economic support and local engagement.

Apart from that, the Loki Schmidt Foundation's 'Swap your monoculture lawn to the flower meadow with insect hotel' project involved schools, homeowners, and a 'Citizen Science' programme promotes awareness to protect biodiversity. 

Despite obstacles, the process demonstrates a bottom-up, stakeholder-driven methodology to achieve design solutions while also promoting environmental education and awareness.