Climate protection in monument preservation – G+L in August 2024!

Preserving valuable resources – this common goal unites monument conservation and climate protection. At the same time, however, current discussions about Munich’s Max-Joseph-Platz and Vienna’s Michaelerplatz also show that the two goals are constantly in conflict with each other. In the next G+L, we will examine how heritage conservation and climate protection in public spaces can be better reconciled despite numerous challenges, examine current cases and discuss with experts where the boundaries lie and must lie.

The “Opera for All” traditionally takes place on the last weekend in July in Munich. Every year, the Bavarian State Opera and BMW invite the city’s residents to take a seat on the stone cobblestones of Max-Joseph-Platz and watch an opera performance. For free. Sitting there on the floor for two hours is as uncomfortable and hip as it gets. But while visitors can still experience “Tosca” on hard, cold stone this year, their picnic blankets could possibly find a place on soft, green grass in 2025. The interim greening of the iconic, listed Max-Joseph-Platz, which has since been approved by the city council, has been and continues to be the subject of controversial debate in the city.

In fact, these discussions were the starting point for us in the G+L editorial team to create this issue on the topic of “Climate protection in heritage conservation”. While building construction has already made a great deal of progress in reconciling heritage conservation and climate protection, this challenge often remains unanswered for open spaces. In this G+L, we therefore want to find out how we can and must adapt listed and historically valuable open and urban spaces to the climate requirements of the present – and where the limits lie.

In their article “Not if, but how”, Daniela Michalski and Wolf-Christian Strauss ask the crucial question: How can climate protection measures be integrated creatively and respectfully into listed open spaces? They shed light on innovative projects and provide valuable insights into practice. What seems difficult to reconcile at first glance reveals astonishing synergies and innovative solutions on closer inspection.

These theoretical approaches are complemented by numerous current practical examples. In addition to Munich, we take a look at Bad Muskau, Berlin, Goslar, Hanover, Regensburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Vienna, spoke to numerous experts and let them have their say on the following pages. Of particular interest: the contrasting positions of Florian Hochstätter, Head of the Munich Horticultural Office, and landscape architect Christoph Valentien. In their comments, both provide insights into the challenges and resistance associated with the greening of historic squares. Their discussion shows how important it is to consider different perspectives and find innovative solutions. We hope you enjoy reading this issue.

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Our last issue was about village life and how attractive it is. Read more about it here.