Green facade at physics institute

Berlin, Berlin (FUA), Germany

City population: 4186143

Duration: 2000 – 2003

Implementation status: Completed

Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Project area: 2400 m²

Type of area: Building

Last updated: November 2024

The Institute of Physics at Humboldt University of Berlin is an outstanding example of ecological urban development and a global pilot project integrating rainwater management with building cooling through greening. A key feature is the cooling system, which relies on air circulation processes supported by green roofs, facades, and an artificial wetland/pond incorporated into the building's exterior and courtyard. Rainwater is collected in cisterns and used to irrigate the green façade, enabling evaporative cooling in air conditioning systems. Excess water is either evaporated in the inner courtyard through a pond or allowed to seep away. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4) The greening of the façade is directly linked to energy optimization. During summer, the green façade provides solar shading against extreme heat, while in winter, sunlight passes unobstructed through the glass façade. Additionally, evaporative cooling improves the microclimate inside the building and its surroundings. (Ref. 3) Berlin, as a densely built city, faces challenges like urban heat and high energy demands for cooling. This project offers a research-driven solution. Monitoring measures water usage for various plants, evaluates evaporative cooling effects, and assesses impacts on the building's energy balance and overall economic and ecological performance. The findings aim to create a foundation for the long-term implementation of innovative, cost-effective technologies. This process is conducted by multiple regional universities. (Ref. 1) The project was initiated and financed by the state of Berlin and implemented after the building's construction. (Ref. 4; Ref. 5) It serves as a benchmark for sustainable urban development and a research model for similar initiatives worldwide.

PHYSICS INSTITUTE

https://coquimalachowskacoqui.com/physik-institut-3/

Overview

Nature-based solution

Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Green walls or facades

Key challenges

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
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

Climate-Related Hazards
Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
Land use and Socio-economic change
Rapid urbanization
Other

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of green roofs and walls, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of lakes or ponds, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems

Project objectives

To conduct research projects for evaluating energy concepts in office buildings. (Ref. 1) To obtain research results on various aspects of façade greening, including the use of plants under different exposures and façade heights, the thermal insulation effects of plant troughs, the effectiveness of substrates in trough-bound greening, and biomass production in façade greening. (Ref. 1) To create a property-based, circular rainwater cycle to support sustainable building operations. (Ref. 1) To reduce energy consumption and costs by lowering indoor cooling demands. (Ref. 1; Ref. 12) To improve indoor and outdoor microclimates through evaporation and shading, enhancing overall environmental quality. (Ref. 3; Ref. 12) To reduce freshwater consumption for indoor cooling, promoting more sustainable water usage. (Ref. 5)

Implementation activities

The project is realised on a newly built building, the Institute of Physics of the Humboldt University. To gain knowledge about efficient energy buildings and the synergy of cooling and greening, a research project was started with the implementation of the project to monitor the implementation, management and effects. To realise the project the following constructions and measures were implemented (Ref. 1): - 150 plant troughs at different heights and exposures with an irrigation system, 10 different plant species - 1 retention pond and 5 cisterns for rainwater management - Roof greening - Façade greening on over 400 linear metres of façades in 4 different differently shaded exposures on 4 storeys - Emergency overflow on open space - Water-permeable paved areas The greening of the building serves two means: the shading and cooling of the building. As plants evaporate water, the immediate surroundings are cooled, wherefore the building heats up slower during hot temperatures. Therefore, less air conditioning (energy and water) inside the building is needed in the first place. The implemented cisterns store rainwater that is used to water the façade greening and air condition the inside of the building. Fresh water is saved and because the buildings heats up less due to the outside greening, the energy usage is reduced. With the pond, cisterns and evaporating plants, the project constitutes a circular water system. (Ref. 8; Ref. 9)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation

Climate change mitigation:

Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling

Main beneficiaries

Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

Regional government
Researchers/university

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Taskforce groups
Dissemination of information and education

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The state Berlin financed the project with financial contributions from the federal government as part of the joint task of university construction. (Ref. 2; Ref. 4) The project management was with the Senate Department for Urban Development (Ref. 3). Technical and scientific project support has been provided by a working group from the Technical University of Berlin, the Humboldt University of Berlin and the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences via the state programme ‘Urban Ecological Model Projects’. (Ref. 5) Landscape architecture offices implemented the project. (Ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown

... a national policy or strategy? Unknown

... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

€500,000 - €2,000,000

Source(s) of funding

Public national budget
Public regional budget

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Expected lowered local temperature
Energy efficiency improvements
Achieved energy efficiency improvements
Water management and blue areas
Improved stormwater management
Achieved improved stormwater management
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Achieved increased green space area
Other

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Achieved increased support for education and scientific research

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

Berliner Regenwasseragentur (n.d.). 400 laufende Meter begrünte Fassade und 5 thematische Höfe - Physik Institut, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Coqui Malachowska Coqui (n.d.). Physik Institut. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

GrünstattGrau (n.d.). Institut für Physik Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Schmidt, M. (n.d.). Das Gebäude. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Schmidt, M. (n.d.). Das Projekt. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Schmidt, M. (n.d.). Ergebnisse. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Schmidt, K. (n.d.). Passive Gebäudekühlung. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Senate Department for Urban Development (n.d.). Institut für Physik in Berlin-Adlershof: Stadtökologisches Modellvorhaben. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

Senate Department for Urban Development (2010). Konzepte der Regenwasserbewirtschaftung Gebäudebegrünung, Gebäudekühlung . Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

10.

Schmidt, M. (2009). Rainwater Harvesting for mitigating local and global warming. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];

11.

District Office Treptow-Köpenick (n.d.). Treptow-Köpenick in Zahlen. [Source link];

12.

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (n.d.). Gebäudebegrünung und Regenwassermanagement an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];