22.10.2024

Lincoln-Siedlung: Climate-friendly mobility in Darmstadt

Building design

The Lincoln Estate in Darmstadt, photo: © Torsten Friedrich

Following the withdrawal of US troops, the former military Lincoln Estate in Darmstadt is being transformed into a residential area. One of the primary goals of the neighborhood development, which was initiated in 2014 and is still ongoing, is climate-friendly mobility. The new concept aims to make people independent of their own cars and offer convenient alternatives. A city of short distances is also to be created so that everyday journeys can be made quickly. With these goals in mind, the Darmstadt urban planning office commissioned Stete Planung to develop the concept.

Due to the urgent need for living space, Darmstadt-based Stete Planung developed an outline plan for a traffic-calmed housing estate with space for 5,000 people. The Lincoln Estate, located on the southern edge of the city, was used by the US Army until 2008. After the area was temporarily abandoned, the ongoing conversion began in 2014. A flagship project for climate-friendly mobility is slowly developing on the former barracks site in the south of Darmstadt.

In order to strengthen climate-friendly mobility, there is a range of car-sharing stations with electric cars, among other things. To ensure that this is actually used, everyone living in the neighborhood receives a monthly free credit of 64 euros. Just as positive incentives have been created for car sharing, there are also some factors that speak against owning a car in the Lincoln estate. For example, the number of parking spaces for individual cars is reduced compared to conventional parking space keys. In addition, the parking spaces for private motorized transport are located on the edges of the estate – just as far away as the new streetcar stop created in 2017. It is therefore not possible for everyone to park right outside their own front door. As a result, climate-friendly car sharing and the use of public transport or bicycles are more convenient for many people than owning their own car.

The reduction in car parking spaces not only benefits the climate, but also directly improves the quality of life in the neighborhood. After all, the reduction in stationary private vehicles leaves more space for play areas, neighborly communal areas and non-motorized traffic. Accordingly, Sarah Knöll, a resident of the Lincoln estate, describes her cargo bike as her main means of transportation in the ZDF report Drehscheibe. She is also happy that she does not have to worry about the safety of her children because of the traffic-calmed streets. The use of bicycles in the Lincoln estate will not only be increased by reducing the number of car parking spaces. A range of bike-sharing stations with electric cargo bikes also promotes the use of bicycles. There is also a mobility advice service for new residents. This advisory service is particularly helpful for older people who would otherwise find it difficult to set up car and bike sharing apps.

By summer 2023, more than half of the Lincoln Estate will be completed. Around 3,000 people now live in the new neighborhood, which is made up of existing and new buildings. In line with the aim of keeping everyday journeys as short as possible, the next stage will see the construction of a further building site with an integrated local supermarket. As a large number of people already live, walk, cycle and drive in the development, it is worth taking a look at the feedback from residents.

Due to its model character, the planners have an analytical approach and remain in contact with the users via participation processes and surveys. Accordingly, the project is being scientifically monitored in cooperation between the City of Science Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and the ILS – Institute for Regional and Urban Development Research gGmbH. Quantitative surveys among the residents revealed, for example, that the proportion of shared flats that own two cars fell from a quarter to 17.5 percent after the move to the Lincoln Estate. This means that there is a statistically significant decrease in the use of private cars. The researchers’ analysis also shows that the use of almost all multimodal alternatives is increasing.

Despite all the positive developments and efforts with regard to climate-friendly mobility options, there are also critical voices. For example, around 45% of respondents believe that the number of parking spaces in the Lincoln estate is insufficient. They consider it possible that the number of parking spaces could lead to conflicts between car owners. In the Drehscheibe documentary, one resident also complains about the difficulty of getting from the far parking space to the front door with heavy shopping and children. Another resident is pleased with the ecological approach, but criticizes the details of the design: it is hardly possible to bring a bicycle with a child and bicycle trailer into the bicycle cellar via the elevator.

Overall, the Lincoln Estate in Darmstadt is already doing a lot to move closer to the image of a climate-friendly city: The reduction in space for cars gives non-motorized traffic more space and safety. A new streetcar stop, mobility stations with electric vehicles and a generous range of bicycle parking facilities with charging options offer a variety of alternatives to private cars. The Lincoln Estate is breaking new ground. In order for this to become a model for other climate-friendly mobility projects, it is important to continue to follow these paths together: Together with local people – preferably on cycle paths and footpaths, of course.

Also interesting: In Berlin, students from the TU examined Kranoldplatz – and suggest replacing the parking spaces. Read more here.

22.10.2024

Product

Architecture can do more – book review

Building design

Book

“Architecture can do more” is a beautiful, short sentence. It leaves a lot open and thus leaves room for creativity. It was written by Sabine von Fischer, a familiar name to many in the arts pages. Von Fischer belongs to the dwindling breed of architecture critics. Accordingly, this little book can also be seen as a tribute to her work, and no less a tribute to the multifaceted nature of architecture. The reason why the book often contains the sentence “Architecture can do a lot” is explained by a stroll through the pages, which are reminiscent of the feel of newsprint.

The publication from the Birkhäuser publishing house is not, as one might assume, an essay. On almost 250 pages, the handy book contains a collection of thematically grouped articles, interviews and reports. These were commissioned by newspapers, and it is precisely her many years of experience as an architecture journalist that is evident on every page, starting with the table of contents. It is immediately clear that the author has abandoned tedious conventions, for example with a spirited self-titled “declaration of love” to the architectural debate: “writing is the greatest gift that professional life could give me. […] It is an active form of participation and action right in the middle of things.” (17)

In terms of content, the 37 texts are organized around four major thematic blocks: living together under the dogmas of open space and density, politics in socially relevant architectural work, concern for the environment and climate as powerful actors, and perceptions and an aesthetic of responsibility. A concluding reflection on architectural criticism frames the content-rich contributions.

Thematic additions to this Baumeister issue can be found, for example, on page 149, when Sabine von Fischer writes critically about the high-rise buildings celebrated in the press as “vertical forests”. With all the critical journalistic practice, it seems strange that the articles are almost exclusively written with or about men. But perhaps this is just a symptomatic reflection of the media landscape, which is still a big stone in our shoe as we move forward.

“Architecture can do more!” is a call to discard restrictive thought patterns and false feelings of responsibility. The reader shows in a pleasant way how to do building practice well and unobtrusively invites us to reflect on the potential of architecture.

Sabine von Fischer’s essay “Responsibility begins with an attitude” appeared in the July issue of Baumeister architecture magazine.

06.02.2026

Resilience and sustainability

How cities are draining – techniques between decentralization and system logic

Building design

A rainy street in a city as a symbol of urban drainage and heavy rain management between decentralization and system logic. — Wet road surfaces illustrate how modern urban drainage manages water, prevents damage and ensures urban quality of life.

Rain, heavy rain, dry spells – cities face enormous challenges in the 21st century when it comes to drainage. How can an urban landscape intelligently manage water, prevent damage and at the same time create an environment worth living in? The answer lies in a fascinating field of tension between decentralized solutions, systemic infrastructure and urban innovation. Welcome to the world of modern urban drainage, where technology, ecology and urban design merge to form a new discipline.

The importance of urban drainage systems for climate resilience and quality of life in cities
Historical development and paradigm shift: from centralized sewer systems to decentralized, multifunctional solutions
Central techniques of urban drainage: urban water management, sponge city principle, blue-green infrastructure
System logic versus decentralization: conflicting goals, synergies and innovative approaches
Practical examples from Germany, Austria and Switzerland – from rainwater management to retention roofs
Technical, legal and social challenges in the transformation of urban drainage concepts
Interaction between urban planning, landscape architecture and water management
Outlook: Digital tools, monitoring and the role of data for sustainable urban drainage

Urban drainage in transition: historical foundations and new challenges

Urban drainage is not a new topic, but dates back to ancient times. Even the Romans built complex sewer systems to drain rainwater and wastewater from settlements. For centuries, sewers were seen as the ideal solution: Water had to be removed from settlements as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure hygiene and prevent flooding. However, this logic is reaching its limits in the 21st century. Heavy rainfall events, increasing land sealing and climate change are putting traditional systems under pressure. The consequences are visible: flooded streets, overflowing cellars and stressed sewage treatment plants are now part of everyday urban life.

The cause lies less in the technology than in the paradigm. Centralized systems that rely on rapid drainage are rigid and not very adaptable. In a dynamic, dense urban structure with ever new requirements – such as quality of stay, greening and climate adaptation – new answers are needed. This is precisely where the paradigm shift begins: away from one-dimensional drainage and towards multifunctional, decentralized solutions that see water as a resource. The term “sponge city” is more than just an urban buzzword. It stands for a philosophy that retains water, allows it to evaporate, stores it and makes it usable.

But the transformation is complex. It requires a new interplay between urban water management, urban planning and landscape architecture. It is not just about pipes and canals, but about integrating retention areas, infiltration troughs, green roofs and open watercourses into the urban texture. At the same time, the requirements for control, monitoring and maintenance are increasing. Technical progress, social rethinking and political decisions go hand in hand.

The challenges are immense: How can centralized infrastructures be combined with decentralized elements? How are responsibilities regulated when private and public areas intertwine? And how can we create acceptance for visible water in a society that has relied on displacement for decades? Every answer to these questions will shape the city of the future.

One thing is certain: Drainage is no longer a purely technical field. It is a melting pot in which ecology, urban design, social issues and technology are interwoven. Only those who understand and shape this complexity can make cities truly sustainable.

Technologies between system logic and decentralization: the new repertoire of urban drainage

Modern urban drainage makes use of an impressive toolbox that goes far beyond the classic sewer network. The focus is on the balance between systemic logic – i.e. the integrated network of sewers, retention basins and wastewater treatment plants – and decentralized elements that absorb, store or evaporate water locally. The key: only the interaction of both approaches makes cities resilient to the challenges of climate change.

The core of the system logic remains the sewer network. It ensures the orderly drainage of wastewater and rainwater, protects public health and forms the backbone of urban water management. However, the load limits have been reached. Heavy rainfall events lead to hydraulic overloads, combined sewer overflows pollute rivers, and expansion is reaching its financial and spatial limits. This is where decentralized technologies come in: They relieve the overall system by retaining the water where it occurs.

The most important decentralized elements include swales, infiltration areas, retention roofs and cisterns. They temporarily store rainwater, allow it to evaporate or seep away and thus create buffer spaces in the urban water cycle. Green roofs have a dual function: they improve the microclimate, provide a habitat for biodiversity and at the same time delay runoff into the sewage system. Open water areas such as rainwater gardens or streams in the city are also playing an increasingly important role – both for water management and for the quality of life.

A prime example is the sponge city principle. It aims to keep as much rainwater as possible in the urban area and make it usable. Areas are unsealed, watercourses reactivated, more trees planted and green corridors networked. At the same time, new forms of retention are being created: multifunctional squares that serve as temporary reservoirs during heavy rainfall, or parks that become seasonal retention basins. Technology is increasingly taking a back seat – what is needed is integration into design, use and infrastructure.

Nevertheless, control remains a challenging task. Modern sensor technology, digital monitoring systems and smart control systems are becoming increasingly important. They make it possible to measure outflows, monitor storage levels and control specific measures as required. In this way, the city itself becomes a learning system that reacts flexibly to weather events. The challenge: technical excellence must be combined with planning and design intelligence.

Practical examples from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: between innovation and reality shock

What does this look like in practice? A look at current projects in Germany, Austria and Switzerland shows: The transformation of urban drainage has long been underway – but it is not without frictional losses. While some cities are implementing ambitious sponge city concepts, others are still struggling with bureaucratic hurdles or a lack of acceptance.

Berlin, for example, is setting standards with its “Climate-friendly rainwater management” program. Here, new districts are planned from the outset in such a way that rainwater does not seep into the sewage system, but is instead stored on the property. Green roofs, trough-trench systems and open water areas are standard. As a result, the city remains dry even during heavy rainfall – and gains in quality of life at the same time.

Vienna, on the other hand, is pursuing an integrative approach with its “blue-green infrastructure concept”. Here, drainage, open space design and climate adaptation are considered as a unit. The Danube Island acts as a huge retention area in the event of flooding, while infiltration basins and artificial streams in inner-city parks provide cooling. The result: a city that does not fear water, but uses it.

Zurich also relies on innovation: in the new Greencity district, all buildings have been equipped with retention roofs and cisterns. Rainwater is collected, used for irrigation or slowly released into the ground. Digital control systems ensure that the systems work optimally – and provide valuable data for urban planning. But not everything runs smoothly: legal uncertainties, questions of responsibility and conflicting objectives with other uses are slowing down implementation.

Smaller cities such as Solingen or Graz show that a lot can be achieved even with limited resources – provided there is the political will and interdisciplinary cooperation. It is crucial that drainage is no longer seen as “invisible” infrastructure, but as a designable part of urban development. Only then will solutions emerge that intelligently combine technology, ecology and use.

Challenges, synergies and future trends: where are we heading?

As promising as the new technologies are, their implementation remains a challenge. Key problem areas lie in the interface between system logic and decentralization. Who is responsible if a private green roof does not work? How are maintenance, control and financing regulated when water infrastructures are distributed among many players? And how can it be ensured that decentralized measures actually contribute to the resilience of the overall system?

The answer lies in new governance models. Cities are increasingly developing guidelines, funding programs and legal instruments to clarify responsibilities. At the same time, digital tools are being developed to facilitate monitoring and control. Urban data platforms, sensor technology and geo-information systems are becoming indispensable in order to record and meaningfully integrate the multitude of decentralized measures. The city of the future will thus become a digital, learning organism – provided that the database is correct and all stakeholders pull together.

Conflicts of use are another issue: where water is held back, it sometimes gets wet – which is not always compatible with the desired use of a square or park. Creative solutions are needed here. Multifunctional areas that serve as playgrounds in everyday life and become retention basins during heavy rainfall are prime examples of this new planning culture. The trick is to combine technology and design in such a way that synergies arise – and no acceptance problems.

The legal framework also needs to be developed further. The adaptation of building regulations, the development of standards for rainwater management and integration into urban development contracts are decisive levers. The transformation can only succeed if law, technology and planning go hand in hand.

Last but not least, the social dimension should not be underestimated. Visible water in the urban space, temporary puddles or flooded areas require a new understanding of urbanity. This calls for communication, participation and education. The urban drainage of the future is not just a question of technology, but also of acceptance and social learning.

Outlook: Digitalization, data and the future of urban drainage

Hardly any other area of urban development is currently benefiting as much from the digital transformation as urban drainage. Data-based systems, intelligent sensor technology and simulations are opening up completely new possibilities. Digital twins – realistic, dynamic city models – make it possible to simulate the effects of rain events in real time, evaluate measures and develop scenarios. The control of retention basins, the monitoring of reservoir levels or the optimization of green roof irrigation are thus becoming data-driven disciplines.

But digitalization is not an end in itself. It only unfolds its potential if it is embedded in a smart overall strategy. The aim is to make sensible use of the wealth of data without losing sight of the complexity. Interdisciplinary teams that combine urban planning, IT, water management and landscape architecture are the key to success. This is the only way to create solutions that are technically feasible, of high design quality and socially acceptable.

A central topic for the future is the linking of urban drainage with other urban infrastructures: energy, mobility, green space management and climate protection. Thinking of the city as a system means creating interfaces and utilizing synergies. Rainwater can supply energy, be used for irrigation or improve microclimates – provided that planning is forward-looking and integrative.

Finally, digitalization also offers new opportunities for participation and transparency. Visualizations, interactive maps and open data platforms make complex interrelationships understandable and invite citizens to help shape them. The urban drainage of the future is therefore not only smarter, but also more democratic – provided there is a willingness to be open.

One thing is certain: The challenges are growing, but the tools are getting better and better. Those who focus on innovative drainage concepts, digital control and integrative planning now will make cities more resilient, more liveable and ready for the climate challenges of the coming decades.

Conclusion: The city is draining – and redesigning itself

Urban drainage is undergoing radical change. Central sewer systems and decentralized green-blue infrastructures now form a new, multi-layered network of urban water management. The paradigm shift from rapid drainage to intelligent storage, use and evaporation is in full swing. This creates challenges, but above all enormous opportunities for urban planning, landscape architecture and water management.

Those who understand the technologies, legal framework and social dynamics can not only protect cities from heavy rainfall and drought, but also make them more liveable, more diverse and more resilient. Drainage is becoming the driving force behind a new urban design in which technology, ecology and urbanity go hand in hand. With digital tools, intelligent concepts and interdisciplinary collaboration, the urban water future can be shaped – sustainably, innovatively and full of possibilities.