The city of Nuremberg is taking bold steps towards a greener, more liveable future. With the pioneering concept of the Berlin landscape architecture firm Sinai, which won the renowned competition for the Bavarian State Garden Show 2030, seven innovative green oases are being created in the Franconian metropolis. These urban retreats symbolize the transformation from a sealed, heat-stressed city to a climate-adapted, biodiverse living space.
Climate change poses major challenges for cities around the world. Heatwaves, heavy rainfall and a lack of biodiversity are increasingly worsening the quality of life in urban areas. Nuremberg is responding to this with the concept of the sponge city and the principle of unsealing. The aim is to break up sealed surfaces, store rainwater locally and create microclimates through greening. In this context, Nuremberg’s green oases not only serve recreational purposes, but also make an active contribution to ecological stability, biodiversity and climate adaptation.
The Sinai office prevailed against 21 other international landscape architecture firms by developing a clear vision: instead of making massive interventions in the urban space, the concept focuses on cautious, site-specific measures. Each of the seven locations is conceived as an independent oasis with a specific character and function – but together they form a coherent green network that runs through the city. This strategy not only creates new qualities of stay, but also strengthens the identity and history of the locations.
1. the city moat: Landscape climate corridor
As the ring-shaped backbone of the old town, the moat will in future serve as a cool, natural retreat. Different types of vegetation – from dune heaths to meadows and small forests – adapt to the respective microclimatic conditions. Curved paths, rainwater troughs and recreational areas with views of the historic walls create a place that combines ecology and recreation. The moat thus becomes a symbol of climate-friendly urban space.
2 The Zwinger: a garden strip for the city and its citizens
The Zwinger runs parallel to the moat and is interpreted as a designed garden space. It offers space for civic uses such as urban gardens, small event areas and recreational areas. While the moat is close to nature, the Zwinger is a cultural stage – an eco-cultural ribbon that enables recreation, education and encounters.
3 The Maxtor: New paths in urban mobility
The Maxtor area is undergoing a comprehensive reorganization. By concentrating traffic on one side, a traffic-calmed urban space is created that strengthens the connection between the historic districts. Green islands, seating and shady trees create a liveable square that invites people to linger and socialize.
4th Grasersgasse: The blossoming tree hall
In Grasersgasse, a unique urban space is being created in which small trees and natural perennials grow into a kind of open tree hall. Historical elements are made visible through archaeological windows, while the reduction in traffic creates space for people to meet, play and relax. This space will become an urban oasis with a strong connection to the history of the place.
5 Theresienplatz: Unsealed garden square with global flair
Theresienplatz will become a central, green axis with a vegetative core of perennials, shrubs and trees. Planting areas from different regions of the world symbolize Nuremberg’s global history and at the same time create a high quality of stay. The square is thus given a new identity as a green center with gastronomic offerings and plenty of space for encounters.
6 Egidienplatz: A space for ideas with a historical reference
Egidienplatz is a place full of history and significance. The concept envisages transforming this space sensitively and doing justice to both the past and the future. New green structures and water features are intended to enliven it and at the same time create an awareness of its historical depth.
7 Insel Schütt: urban ecology meets open space quality
New green spaces are also being created on Insel Schütt, which are characterized in particular by their proximity to the water. Recreation areas, play facilities and shady tree plantings help to cool the area and make the island a popular place for local recreation. This oasis combines urban
A central component of the Oasen concept is the active participation of the people of Nuremberg. Many measures are designed in such a way that they can be shaped and further developed in cooperation with citizens’ groups and initiatives. At the same time, the entire concept is based on resource-saving materials, low maintenance and long-term usability – decisive factors for real sustainability in public spaces.
The Bavarian State Garden Show 2030 is not just a major event, but the driving force behind the long-term transformation of the city of Nuremberg. The planned measures will extend far beyond the year 2030 and create lasting values for future generations. New habitats for animals and plants, climatically pleasant retreats for the urban population and strengthened cultural locations make the green oases a central element of Nuremberg’s urban development.
With its seven green oases, Nuremberg is taking a forward-looking approach that could inspire other cities. The successful interplay of ecology, urban design and civic engagement shows how urban spaces can be designed to be sustainable, climate-resilient and liveable. The city is thus not only creating new parks, but also a new understanding of the city as a living, breathing organism. The concept of Nuremberg’s green oases makes it clear: the cities of the future will not be created by more concrete – but by more greenery.
Read more about the Ulm 2030 State Garden Show here.
