From grey to green: How Magdeburg’s New Plaza Merges Trees and Stormwater Management
The ancient city of Magdeburg in Germany, situated on the banks of the River Elbe, has a long and eventful history. For over 1,200 years, it has been an important crossroads in the heart of the country, growing wealthy through trade and serving as the seat of the archbishop. However, very little of the original city remains, as it was destroyed twice, first in 1631 and again in January 1945. Consequently, much of the city consists of post-war buildings. The dividing line between East and West Germany lay just west of the city, leaving it in the Russian zone, where most new architecture was somewhat brutalist and minimalist in style. After the unification of Germany in 1990, much of the city was rebuilt in a more modern European style, providing high-quality accommodation for the residents of this busy city, which once had most of its industry concentrated in the very centre.
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Contractor
Landscape Architect
From grey to green: How Magdeburg’s New Plaza Merges Trees and Stormwater Management
The ancient city of Magdeburg in Germany, situated on the banks of the River Elbe, has a long and eventful history. For over 1,200 years, it has been an important crossroads in the heart of the country, growing wealthy through trade and serving as the seat of the archbishop. However, very little of the original city remains, as it was destroyed twice, first in 1631 and again in January 1945. Consequently, much of the city consists of post-war buildings. The dividing line between East and West Germany lay just west of the city, leaving it in the Russian zone, where most new architecture was somewhat brutalist and minimalist in style. After the unification of Germany in 1990, much of the city was rebuilt in a more modern European style, providing high-quality accommodation for the residents of this busy city, which once had most of its industry concentrated in the very centre.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
In the northern Neue Stadt area, the Gesundheitsamt (Public Health Authority) building featured a large forecourt area with trees in need of renovation. Several trees had already failed, and the paving required replacement. The City Council commissioned studies to explore the available options and, in January 2015, selected a design that met their criteria, including sustainable drainage provision, adequate rooting volume for new trees, and a paving design that would allow for multiple future uses. Magdeburg City Council recognised that this regeneration project could support economic growth as well as social value, bringing additional greenery to the city for the long term.
Working with Magdeburg City Council, Greenleaf Deutschland, distributors of GreenBlue Urban products in Germany, designed and implemented the full GreenBlue Urban ArborFlow sustainable drainage and tree planting system beneath the plaza area. This provided space both above and below ground, allowing the 21 Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) trees to flourish and reach their full life expectancy potential. The ground beneath the tree pits is heavily compacted, consisting of debris from the war, meaning the trees can only access nutrients provided within the RootSpace soil cell system, making it vital that sufficient soil was included.
In the northern Neue Stadt area, the Gesundheitsamt (Public Health Authority) building featured a large forecourt area with trees in need of renovation. Several trees had already failed, and the paving required replacement. The City Council commissioned studies to explore the available options and, in January 2015, selected a design that met their criteria, including sustainable drainage provision, adequate rooting volume for new trees, and a paving design that would allow for multiple future uses. Magdeburg City Council recognised that this regeneration project could support economic growth as well as social value, bringing additional greenery to the city for the long term.
Working with Magdeburg City Council, Greenleaf Deutschland, distributors of GreenBlue Urban products in Germany, designed and implemented the full GreenBlue Urban ArborFlow sustainable drainage and tree planting system beneath the plaza area. This provided space both above and below ground, allowing the 21 Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) trees to flourish and reach their full life expectancy potential. The ground beneath the tree pits is heavily compacted, consisting of debris from the war, meaning the trees can only access nutrients provided within the RootSpace soil cell system, making it vital that sufficient soil was included.
Completed in 2020, the new inner-city public realm area has proved to be a great success. Rainwater is drained from the hard-surfaced areas into the tree pits, managing stormwater efficiently and sustainably. The trees are visually stunning, the Persian Ironwood’s bark peels away to reveal fresh, brightly coloured layers beneath, in shades of cinnamon, green, pink, and pale yellow. In addition to the striking bark, the glossy green leaves turn a rich purple-red in autumn, creating a spectacular seasonal display. These trees have an excellent chance of reaching maturity and becoming large, long-lived specimens, bringing the significant environmental and social benefits that only healthy, mature trees can provide.
Completed in 2020, the new inner-city public realm area has proved to be a great success. Rainwater is drained from the hard-surfaced areas into the tree pits, managing stormwater efficiently and sustainably. The trees are visually stunning, the Persian Ironwood’s bark peels away to reveal fresh, brightly coloured layers beneath, in shades of cinnamon, green, pink, and pale yellow. In addition to the striking bark, the glossy green leaves turn a rich purple-red in autumn, creating a spectacular seasonal display. These trees have an excellent chance of reaching maturity and becoming large, long-lived specimens, bringing the significant environmental and social benefits that only healthy, mature trees can provide.
