Dresden Postplatz 2045 - a vision of the future

What could Postplatz look like in 2045? A new graphic vision shows a surprisingly green and lively future perspective for this central traffic junction. The photorealistic image transforms the square into an oasis of green and blue: green roofs and façades, unsealed open spaces and water features as well as a large number of new trees give it the atmosphere of a park and thus a completely new quality of stay.

The illustration is a motivating signpost for a Dresden that is facing up to the challenges of climate change. The image is intended as an invitation to all people in Dresden to get involved in creating a city worth living in for the future.

Impulses for future urban development:

1. external sun protection for windows

External solar shading is one of the most effective ways of reducing the heat load in buildings and lowering room temperatures by several degrees Celsius, especially with large window areas. Combined with thin-film photovoltaic modules, these can also be used to generate electricity.

2. renewable energies in the city

Electricity can be generated renewably in the city by using roof surfaces via photovoltaic elements. As can be seen from this example, these can also be designed in such a way that they do not significantly change the existing building appearance.

3. grass tracks

Green streetcar tracks promote the infiltration of rainwater and thus contribute to sustainable water management. At the same time, the grass surfaces ensure effective cooling at night and increase the supply of cool air to the urban quarter. They reduce noise by soundproofing the green areas and at the same time create habitats for numerous plant and animal species, thereby increasing biodiversity in urban areas.

4. artificial nesting aids

In order for the city to be a habitat for animals, there must be nesting opportunities as well as food sources. Artificial nesting structures on façades or roofs can improve the availability for many animal species and thus also strengthen biodiversity and a natural balance between species. For wild bees, bats and birds in particular, there are already high-quality solutions that can be integrated into the façade.

5. playgrounds with drinking fountains and toilets

Playgrounds with seating, toilets and drinking fountains create inclusive places that give everyone access to public spaces and thus promote participation regardless of age, background or income. They fulfill basic human needs free of charge and thus strengthen social justice and quality of life in urban areas. They also promote encounters between different social groups, which can strengthen social cohesion in the city.

6. edible city

Edible elements such as fruit trees in public spaces promote awareness of seasonality and make visible how food grows. They promote the urban population's connection to food cultivation and production and raise awareness of the sustainable use of natural resources. The Edible City contributes to climate adaptation by using green spaces to regulate the urban climate, store water and increase biodiversity. At the same time, it creates inclusive space for community, education and participation.

7. green roofs and façades

In addition to the heat protection effect - both in open spaces and in buildings - green roofs and façades have other significant positive properties for the protection of nature, the environment and resources. These include, for example, local retention of rainwater, filtering of air pollutants, increasing biodiversity or communal use as roof gardens.

8. areas for rainwater management

More frequent and heavier heavy rainfall events are an increasing risk of climate change. The sewage system or elements for evaporation or infiltration are often not able to drain the water volumes in such a short time. For such events, a sponge city must provide retention areas that can store large quantities of rainwater for several days without causing damage. Multifunctional spaces such as sunken parks, sports fields or even skating rinks are ideal for this purpose. In the phases without heavy rainfall events, undisturbed recreational use is possible here.

9 Trees

Urban greenery is an effective heat shield both during the day and at night. Especially during the day, trees with spreading canopies increase the quality of stay on hot, radiant summer days, as they reduce the perceived temperature by more than 10 degrees Celsius, particularly due to their shading effect. Trees also act as dust filters and as a habitat for animals.

10. rain stele - raising awareness of the value of rainwater

As climate change progresses, we will have to expect longer periods of drought. Rainwater is already valuable today - especially as the preservation and vitality of public green spaces depend on consistent irrigation. The rain stele clearly visualizes the amount of rainfall and publicly highlights its value. At the same time, the stele offers the possibility of temporarily storing rainwater and using it later to irrigate the public green space.

11. traffic

In the vision, the mobility mix at Postplatz changes towards more public transport, cycling and walking. To this end, the infrastructure around Postplatz will be converted into cycle lanes - clearly colored blue. The streetcars will run on grass tracks and the traffic calming and redesign of the square will also make walking much more pleasant. Delivery traffic and emergency services can of course continue to use these routes. The square is barrier-free and offers orientation.

The image is available under a Creative Commons license and can be downloaded in medium quality (without numbering) here.

The vision is backed by BUND Dresden and the Local Agenda Dresden as well as scientists from TUD Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IÖR). The Reinventing Society association and the loomn agency implemented the ideas graphically. The project was financed by the BUND project "Biodiverse Sponge City Dresden", Stadtentwässerung Dresden and Lokale Agenda Dresden.

Contact for a higher resolution of the image: meteorologie(at)tu-dresden.de