Managing Diversity in a Sustainable Urban Setting: Kronsberg, Hanover, Germany

Ulker Copur, Ph.D. Professor of Architecture

Roger Williams University School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation 45th International Making Cities Livable Conference, Portland, Oregon, 10-14 June 2007

1

Diversity is highly instrumental in implementing urban planning decisions in rebuilding our cities for a more sustainable future. Many urban planning initiatives have placed diversity as their prime mission in regards to trajectories related to social, cultural, technological and ecological variables. However, there is still concern over homogenization and globalization of these trajectories. This is very much related to management of diversity. If diversity is managed properly, it can enhance sustainability and improve quality of life. We can define diversity as self-sustaining dynamics conducive to co-existence of multiple domains. This can be best observed in the functioning of ecological systems. As Jane Jacobs indicated, “…the eco systems are never monocultural. Their ideal scale is a size capable of sustaining populations of greatly diverse natural inhabitants that offer direct benefits to one another.”1 There is hence a support mechanism inherent in the ecological systems that can correct itself in times of partial malfunctioning or even rapid change. In such circumstances, diversity compensates breakdown of adaptive procedures and decentralized systems. Ecological processes therefore, can be considered as models for planning for diversity. Planned transformation toward more diversity implies an improvement in the environment in terms of variety, complexity and utilization of multiplicity of choices. This reduces redundancy and homogenization. Although numerous successful examples can be given on this account, there are also cases where diversity in urban contexts failed due to lack of integrated planning, which requires proper diversity management during pre-planning as well as post-planning phases. To sustain the diversity management, a culture of sustainability within the community has to evolve concurrently.2 Unless there is wide awareness and acceptance of “sustainability” as a new paradigm, the actualization of sustainable /ecological planning initiatives will be short lived. My paper will expand on a discussion of appropriating diversity through ecological urban planning. I will demonstrate that implementation of coordinated diversity will solve multiple problems that cities and our planet are facing today. Therefore, my exploration will go beyond just embracing local and regional diversity agenda. We are confronting a significant irreversible process of global warming, and if a collective intervention of reducing the carbon emissions is not activated, we are all going to suffer its consequences. Since the major contributors to global warming are the cities (50%), we all need to contribute to reversal or at least reduction of carbon emissions to 20% less than the carbonization level in 1990 as a target for 2020 (ratified by the European Union).3 To keep the status quo will increase the accumulation of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at a rate faster than what can be processed by the planet’s available natural systems. This will impair the ecological balance and will disrupt our lives significantly. Changing the course and accommodating sustainable planning initiatives by activating a multiplicity of new initiatives and seeking alternative courses of action therefore, is critical. Searching for multiple avenues is almost unavoidable now due to the severity of problems that await us on climate change. Since we should be adopting a variety of methods concurrently by which we can directly or indirectly have an impact to improve the global situation at a local

1 Jane Jacobs, The Greening of the City (New York: The NY Times Magazine, May 16, 2004), p. 22-26. 2 Ulker Copur, Social and Cultural Sustainability (unpublished manuscript, 2004), p. 2. 3 “European Council Report on Carbon Emissions,” in Presidency Conclusions, Brussels, 8/9 March 2007, p. 13 (http://www.consilium.europa.eu.).

2

level, managing diversity of initiatives for full impact becomes an integral part of this challenge. Most direct way of impacting and reducing carbon emissions is through the use of diverse renewable energies. There are also other effective ways, specifically with respect to urban design and landscape planning initiatives. I will be exploring “Kronsberg Sustainable Habitat” in Hannover, Germany as a case in identifying and demonstrating diversity management as part of ecological planning.4 I will be evaluating direct and indirect impacts of planned ecological diversity, which was managed in conjunction with density planning, inter-phased with reforestation and water management. As such, the impacts of diverse ecological initiatives planned for Kronsberg may not be immediately observable but they do contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment for all species while helping to decelerate global warming. The declaration of “Sustainable Living” as a new paradigm, starting with “Agenda 21”, was summoned by the Rio-Earth Conference in 1992 and was outlined as “Hannover Principles”.5 This new paradigm was the basis for key principles in planning, design and building construction and was implemented in the two world expositions, EXPO 2000 in Hannover “Humankind – Nature – Technology”; and EXPO 2005 in Aichi, Japan “Nature’s Wisdom”. They both exemplified an ecological learning environment, encouraging world society to listen to the “voice of nature”. The 2000 Hannover World Exposition, in addition to its main EXPO site, also included the planning of a sustainable community “Kronsberg” (Fig. 1). The last two world expositions, following the Hannover principles, illustrated various opportunities for developing a sustainable environment by following the flows of nature. As the capacity of nature reached a threshold that started to threaten the future of our planet, we need layers of interventions to improve and reestablish our connections with nature. Kronsberg successfully displays layers of sustainable initiatives that follow the path of natural systems. 1. City of Hannover, EXPO 2000 and Kronsberg development site Source: Hannover Kronsberg Handbook, p. 7 4 Karin Rumming (ed), Hannover Kronsberg Handbook, Planning and Realization (Leipzig: Jutte-Messedruck Leipzig GmbH, 2004). 5 William McDonough & Michael Braungart, Hannover Principles, Design for Sustainability (New York: McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, 2003) (originally prepared for the City of Hannover, Germany for EXPO 2000).

3

Kronsberg sustainable habitat is an exemplary model for diverse ecological practices with its density policy, constructed landscapes, decentralized applications of renewable sources of energy, sustainable site management, public transportation and pedestrian networks, ecological infrastructure, planned recycling programs starting with the construction phase, human scale community clusters with diverse cultural and social population groups, and with variety of housing configurations designed by over 30 different architectural firms to comply with the “Hanover Principles”. Both the Hanover Municipality and the local organization, KUKA, initiated the community involvement and accomplished its sustainable education mission and guidance roles for the community to improve quality of life that encourage integrating nature and culture in many layers.6 Kronsberg as such, demonstrates a model of diversity managed with multivalent initiatives for exploring livable cities. The sustainable participatory community, Kronsberg, East - South East of the city of Hanover, with 3,347 residential units and a population of 6,456,7 engages management of ecological diversity as one of its central themes. Kronsberg, also known as the “Garden City Kronsberg”, at the urban periphery, is a successful precedent with variety of initiatives in landscape and infrastructure planning synchronized with higher density accommodations. Each of these initiatives contributes ecological improvements in a cumulative manner; providing not only layers of sustainable development with certain urban characteristics in a suburban location but also restores natural habitat and biodiversity. I will now discuss management of diversity basically elaborating on three major concurrent initiatives:

a. The management of “urban green”, reforestation and green corridors; b. Creating a density to allow more green open space and linkages; c. Diversifying water systems through integrated natural systems and absorbent

landscapes. a. The management of “urban green”, reforestation, and green corridors: The city of Hannover is known as the “City of Gardens”. Historically, for more than 500 years, there has been approximately 700 hectares of forest belonging to the city. The “green lung” penetrates into the city of Hannover in the form of corridors or forest parks, which provides a healthy environment not only for the people but also for wild life habitat. The planning of the world exposition 2000 created the opportunity to link the city parks to EXPO 2000 site and to Kronsberg Garden City, the model habitat adjacent to the existing eastern farmland. Kronsberg is referred as “Krons Hill”, which was covered with forest area prior to farmland.8 Only fragments of the forest at the periphery of East Hannover still remain (Gaim and Bockmerholz).9 Kronsberg is in between this old forestland and the city of Hannover. With the 6 Karin Rumming (ed), p.37-38. 7 “Bevolkerung am Ort der Hauptwohnung am 30.09.2004 in Kleinraumiger Gliederung - Kronsberg-Mitte, Kronsberg-Nord, Kronsberg,” in Statis Hannover: Landeshauptstadt Hannover, Statistikstelle. 8 Kaspar Klaffke, Antja Brink, Silke Beck (eds), Nature conservation, Recreation and Agriculture on the Urban Margins (Hannover: Druckerei Pinkvoss, City Of Hannover, Parks and Greenspace Division 2000), p. 4. 9 Kaspar Klaffke, Antja Brink, Silke Beck (eds), p. 4.

4

introduction of the “woodland planting” east of “Kronsberg”, a natural connection to Hanover’s forest parks is maintained. Reforestation of more than 60 hectares10 and its green linkages to Bockmerholz and possibly to Gaim, can be viewed as weaving the forest terrain from the natural forested periphery toward the city of Hannover (Fig. 2). Therefore, the urban periphery (planned garden city Kronsberg) is interconnected and becomes a filter of green infrastructure linking the constructed and conserved forest areas to the city at large. At a macro scale, together with the green islands of urban forest in Hannover, the constructed woodlands contribute to reversing, reducing or absorbing greenhouse gases. It will definitely help to improve the carbon sink by processing it through the absorbent soil of the conserved and introduced forest area. This is also part of the local governments’ mission where the city of Hannover defined ecological standards in several areas including ‘nature conservation’11 and ‘soil management’.12 2. Kronsberg, adjacent forest and farmland. (Source: Hannover Kronsberg Handbook, p. 9) Germany, where 30% of land is covered with forests attempts a “sustainable forest management” while addressing broader diverse ecological, social and economic issues. “Sustainable forest management is the stewardship and use of forest and forest land in a way, and at a rate, that maintains biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfill, now and future relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”13 Conserving forests would therefore, improve biodiversity reserve, create habitat for wildlife and biotopes, and reduce land erosion. Reforestation supports water filtration process, restores the water table to its natural

10 “Hannover, Kronsberg: A New Sustainable Development as part of EXPO 2000,” in Abstract: Kronsberg Landscape (http://www.eaue.de/winuwd/190htm). 11 Kaspar Klaffke, Antja Brink, Silke Beck (eds). 12 Karin Rumming (ed), Hannover Kronsberg Handbook, Planning and Realization, 2004, p. 82. 13 “1993 Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Resolution H-1,” Helsinki, June 1993, p.1, (http://www.mcpfe.org/resolutions/helsinki).

5

level, slows down the run-off water and enhances natural rainwater harvesting by feeding ground water resources continuously. Starting with the environmental impact assessment, a framework has been established for a multifunctional forestry for the vicinity of Hannover. Consciously, measures are being taken to protect and develop biological diversity in forest management. Ecological diversity is being restored through landscape planning connecting Kronsberg to larger forest areas. Kronsberg Garden City became part of the 80 km. green paths that link the outer natural land around Hannover to the city.14 These corridors and reconstructed forest parks generate migration patterns of many species, enrich our audial experience, and provide pleasant movement zones that encourage people to bicycle; as well as widening the territories for birds, animals and insects. There still needs to be further research on territoriality, bioregion and biodiversity and forest eco systems. But, connecting the garden city Kronsberg with a network of green areas and natural corridors to the rural areas on one hand and to the urban forests of Hannover on the other provides numerous benefits mentioned (Fig. 3). 3. View of Hannover urban forest and lakes from the ‘Rathaus’.

(Source: Photo by the author, October 2004) Ecological planning also integrated agricultural land for food harvesting; pasture land for animal husbandry as well as generating a nature conservation area. This whole development of reforestation, with green linkages to green open spaces, parks and gardens definitely improved the quality of life of locals. Conserving forestland and reforestation as risk mitigation policy also contributes to reduction of carbon emissions and global warming. German Municipalities are highest amongst contributing members of Europe Climate Alliance (419 German municipalities are members which constitutes 43% of their total population).15 Kronsberg garden city followed a regional reforestation plan that demonstrates one of the three major initiatives that reduce carbon

14 Kaspar Klaffke, Antja Brink, Silke Beck (eds). Nature conservation, Recreation and Agriculture on the Urban Margins, p. 4 15 “Brussels European Council 8/9 March 2007,” in Presidency Conclusions - Climate Protection, p. 12, (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)

6

emissions (the other two are utilizing renewable energy resources and taking measures to reduce energy consumption). Kronsberg currently aims at and executes successfully 60% less carbon emissions just from space heating, sustainable construction and electricity provisions. Reforestation and introduction of other green zones will contribute to this reduction, perhaps not as much as planned renewable resource use and reduction of energy consumption, but will have augmented and positive effects in climate change. Preserving layers of green, and implementing reforestation and landscaping systematically will reduce additional carbon dioxide emissions. Although we see critical improvements in reforestation in Europe, it is also important to place it in context of global initiative. To compensate the 20% of emissions each year from deforestation and forest fires that incur around the world, reforestation should continue locally to contribute not only for reducing carbon emission but also supporting multiple tasks as outlined.16

b. Creating a density to allow more public green open space and linkages: Urban sprawl in many cities of the world, generated by urban population growth is continuously penetrating into forest and farmland. As part of ecological planning process, we need to reverse this trend and see if “public green zones” can start weaving back into the city fringes, connecting with the green urban infrastructure, built environment and spatial systems. One way of accomplishing this is to increase the density at the urban periphery to leave space for public green. The old planning models of private development do not allow this to happen. At present, energy and time are consumed in an unprecedented manner with respect to peripheral developments and their dependency on the center. At a smaller scale, Eco Village Ithaca, in New York State, and Village Homes in Davis California are attempts of two planned sustainable communities to increase density for maintaining larger public green space. The suburban or even some “New Urbanism” settlements still follow the conventional models of development. To date we encounter large-scale auto dependent mega-suburban developments specifically in South Western United States where not much attention is given to sustainability issues. Those mega settlements continue suffering from the consequences of urban sprawl. This creates problems not only for those who live in those mega communities but also has a tremendous negative impact in increasing our ecological footprint.17 I think, this is also part of lack of sustainability culture that holds back the changes in our conventional way of planning, design and as lifestyles. Kronsberg Sustainable Habitat is an attempt of diminishing suburbanization trend in such a way that while reducing dependency to the center it also creates an interface between urban life and nature. It aims to minimize the environmental impact on nature by selectively increasing density. Unlike a suburban development on the peripheries, certain requirements of higher population density are met by availability of diverse public services and job opportunities closer to residents or within reach by buses and tramlines to Hannover Center. Kronsberg demonstrated a redistribution of work place within easily reachable conditions to support a sustainable life style. The garden city presently occupies about 70 hectares (205 acres) of land with a density of about 14 dwelling units to an acre or 43 per hectare. This can be considered as medium to high density in an uneven distribution of housing flats (a range of two and a half to five floors increasing toward the city side) (Fig. 4).

16 Dagens Nyheter. Co2 Emissions Calculator by Climate Care, (http://climate care2.trinomics.net/dagens) 17 MathisWackernagel & William Rees, Our Ecological Footprint; Reducing Human Impact on the Earth (Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers, 1996)

7

4. Higher density housing with uneven distribution of flats to generate more public open space. (Sources: Photos by the author, October 2004) By having a higher density and leaving larger open areas as a primary ecological master-planning goal, Kronsberg settlement exemplifies an optimal expansion at the periphery (a narrow rectangular strip development in the north east – southwest direction). At the same time, planning a rectilinear grid allowed a system of public open green spaces in close proximity to where people live. There are several neighborhood green open spaces, which were equally distributed within the settlement. These public green areas also accommodate public functions such as a kindergarten; children’s play area, etc. while allowing more space for larger population groups. Appropriate distribution of population in a given area, with access to public green has also additional advantages of enhancing social interaction and community involvement (Fig. 5). 5. Kronsberg, General Plan including Open Space Planning. (Source: Hannover Kronsberg Handbook, p. 49) A high priority was placed on landscape planning that foresaw the new settlement as a garden city with a decentralized sustainable land use and green lınkages. All basic needs are to be

8

fulfilled within a quarter mile walking distance or reachable by cycling. The avenues and streets where one walks are green corridors with variety of trees that temper climatic conditions instead of being exposed to sun, wind and precipitation. It is obvious that people like to walk or bicycle more willingly through aesthetically pleasing and protected environments. In Kronsberg, pedestrian preference, bicycling and public transportation reduces substantially the use of cars and parking needs (.8 / Household) and hence generates a more sustainable environment that will undoubtedly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. c. Diversifying water systems by integrating natural systems and absorbent landscapes: Kronsberg garden city exemplifies one of the most comprehensive water management systems in planned settlements. Bodies of water are essential life support systems for all of nature. They are resources that we desperately need to conserve to maintain ecological equilibrium. 70% of our planet surface and approximately the same percentage of human body is water. It is also evident that with the growth of population and settlements around the world, water is going to be used more intensely and shortages will be inevitable. We should be more aware of the need for water conservation. Most of the time water resources are wasted whether they are in the form of rain water, drinking or even gray water. We consume half of our water in our suburban lawns and most of this is drinking water. Wastewater and rainwater are usually channeled into single infrastructure without considering nature’s functions to handle water systems. These functions maintain regenerative processes such as conversion, distribution, filtration, assimilation and storage.18 At a more regional level, we should revisit principles of ecological planning, which were brought up into our attention long time ago on the nature’s functions that also include rainwater harvesting, filtering and storage.19 In addition, many urban centers are going to encounter a serious problem of gray water discharge through existing infrastructures. In spite of decentralization, there is much overload on our city water infrastructure that originates from residences, commercial areas, industries, etc. There are not many examples of planned run off water distribution and harvesting gray water. In United states there are few local / private initiatives such as Village Homes in Davis, CA. utilizing swales rather than run off water connecting to city infrastructure; and isolated examples such as using living machines to process gray water to reduce impact initiated from growth of businesses in down town areas (Weston in MA) or eliminate chemical discharge delivered by industrial use (New England Bio-Tech Laboratories).20 Kronsberg followed a course of rainwater management system through a sustainable infrastructure planning, a unique case of development, which was demonstrated as an important viable investment for the new settlement.21 An ultimate goal was established to plan diverse rainwater absorption systems “close to nature” to accommodate the natural conditions prior to Kronsberg Garden City development. These resulted in landscape planning by decentralization

18 John Tillman Lyle, Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1994). 19 Ian McHarg, Design with Nature (New York: Museum of Natural Garden City, 1969). 20 Both living machines are designed by Ecological Engineering Group, (http://www.ecological-engineering.com). 21 Water Concept Kronsberg, Part of the EXPO Project – Ecological Optimization Kronsberg (Hannover: 2000), pp. 32.

9

and redistribution of water filtration and storage over the whole site. One of the systems included gully-trenches on the sides of three miles long of alleys, streets and avenues. The back-up plan for additional flow is absorbed by both water retention areas at the foot of the Kronsberg Hill as well as “close to natural” swales, sluiced channels (check dams), rainwater reservoirs and outfall ditches (Fig. 6).22

6. Examples of diverse water retention systems and absorbent landscapes (Sources: Photos by the author, October 2004) In addition, planting trees and introducing permeable landscapes that require least maintenance such as planting local and regional plant species next to water bodies save substantial amount of water resources. Absorbent terrain with water bodies also helps to moderate the temperature. These multiple processing initiatives should be considered as precedents for newly planned areas as well as retrofitting existing urban surface systems (Fig. 7).

7. Kronsberg Water absorption / retention / controlled runoff systems. (Source: Water Concept Kronsberg, http://www. Sibart.org/pdf/water-kronsberg)

22 Water Concept Kronsberg, p. 12-14, 26-31

10

As a result, a variety of support systems was generated to simulate nature’s functions. With strong outpours of rain, conventional drainage systems would be totally inadequate to handle the amount of water runoff, and the existing stream systems in the area may not be able to absorb the flow. Severe flooding situations around the world and in Europe are also due to failing nature’s capacity of absorption in multiple ways. By introducing a network of absorbent landscapes in Kronsberg, the flow of run off water is decelerated. As part of water management in Kronsberg, rainfall will improve the receding levels of underground water table, which is planet’s natural water storage function. Therefore, the Kronsberg settlement is a passage through planned ecological corridors that contain both green and water elements. They contribute to climate regulation, biodiversity and recreation alternatives, as well as optimizing natural processes on the occupied land for the existing and future planned growth. Varying aesthetic quality in different times of the year enriches the garden city as the capacity of water retention changes with different seasons and according to precipitation. These two systems, vegetation and water systems simultaneously support each other in feeding bird and animal population as well as preserving some of the biotope in the area. Enlargement of green areas has and will secure continuity through multiple systems connecting to each other and will appropriate an uninterrupted contact with nature as one moves from one domain to the other. I am very positive that Kronsberg’s inhabitants, due to intimacy of their connections to nature, will spent more time outdoors than the average person. Findings demonstrate that only 10% - 20% of our daily life is spent outdoors. Kronsberg displays a condition that satisfies a biological need, termed biophilia,23 a human tendency to affiliate with nature, which also promotes physical and mental health.24

To reduce the ecological impact of this new development, which will reach eventually to a population of 15,000 occupying 150 hectares (440 acres) in the near future, necessitated an intense planning that involved distribution of water resources as part of landscape planning. Water management in Kronsberg similar to management of renewable energy systems resulted in a coordinated effort from local, regional and national constituents as well as cooperation with Kronsberg inhabitants. Schools in Kronsberg also became a learning environment for dissemination of water concept implemented in Kronsberg. Kronsberg primary school grounds and the building with ıts green roof demonstrate multiple ways of harvesting rainwater; serving wild life habitats as well as utilizing recycled rainwater in toilets and in watering the plants. Water management became part of the Kronsberg education system and was supported by local and regional publications. Cumulative impacts of reforestation, surface water resources, permeable or absorbent landscapes are also instrumental in heat island mitigation planning. Heat islands are generated primarily through non-permeable hard surfaces, horizontally or vertically in numerous urban conditions. Greening cities will improve water evaporation and thus reduce solar radiation and heat island effect. Careful orientation of buildings and planting of deciduous trees in appropriate zones 23 Edward Wilson, Biophilia (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984). 24 “Research Design Connections,” in Landscape Architecture, Aug. 2006, Vol. 96, n. 8, p. 72 -77.

11

generate a microclimate that impacts temperature variations up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This also reduces cooling costs and reduces carbon emissions. Just planting trees to the south and west of our homes bring an annual energy saving of 500-1,500 Kwh which means an annual reduction in carbon emissions of 1000 lb./yr (454 kg / yr), a total of carbon stored in trees and energy saved from reduced air conditioning.25 In Kronsberg 61% of sealed surfaces of diverse types, including parking areas, accesses, pathways or gravel-based grassed areas are permeable.26 Also, 29% of roof areas are planted in variety of ways.27 The concept of utilizing green roofs goes back to Mesopotamian civilization; Babylonian hanging gardens are a case in point. Germany has one of world’s most intensive uses of roof gardens (10-12% of roof structures). Hannover University is also instrumental in contributing to “living” roof research. Roof gardens, by improving insulation, slowing the run off water, retaining moisture, contributing to cooling through evaporation, reduce carbon dioxide impact and save energy. They also generate wild life habitats whether they are intensive or extensive type, improve water quality and provide multivalent uses and longevity in maintaining roofing materials. The roofscape of buildings is enriched by roof gardens for multiple uses. They are otherwise mostly impermeable, dark, and unaesthetic appearances. During the last world EXPO in Aichi, Japan in 2005, it was demonstrated that not only roof gardens but also green walls would impact heat island mitigation and accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in a variety of ways. Green walls make vertical surfaces more permeable, slow down rainwater run off and exemplify a similar impact like water bodies in modifying temperature. Bio-lung at EXPO 2005 is a green wall passage where 200 bioregional species are planted over 3,500 square meters to demonstrate the possibilities of minimizing heat island effect especially in densely packed urban areas where there is minimum access to nature. This can also reduce urban noise pollution and contributes to alleviate global warming. Measurements according to “Land Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry show that the temperature of green wall surfaces were lower than the non-greened wall surfaces by 7 degrees Centigrade (13 degrees Fahrenheit).”28 In summary, reducing the burden on nature by decentralizing and diversifying sustainable operations such as introducing multiple ways of rainwater harvesting, reforestation, implementing variety of absorbent landscapes will relieve the negative environmental impact of accommodating dense population groups. This required management of variety of urban design strategies initially materialized in the EXPO 2000 site but was most successfully carried out in Kronsberg Housing experiment. Kronsberg created the culture of sustainability with implementation of a sustainability agenda. The garden city became a learning environment for diverse sustainability initiatives managed collectively by numerous governmental and private organizations at local, regional and national levels, as well as by a local community organization KUKA and Kronsberg inhabitants. Initiating sustainability culture amongst diverse groups became an integrating goal for this community with varying age, social, economic and ethnic

25 “Reducing Carbon Emissions,” in Teacher’s Guide to World Resources, table, p. 17. 26 Water Concept Kronsberg, diagram 6, p. 25 27 Water Concept Kronsberg, diagram 7, p. 25 28 “EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan,” in Environmental Report published upon the completion of the exposition, September 2005, p. 97.

12

backgrounds. The sustainability mission therefore, became part of Kronsberg urban culture. This could not have been accomplished if not supported by the local people who have embraced sustainability mission as part of their life style. KUKA, the local grassroots organization, was instrumental in convening numerous community meetings and workshops to disseminate sustainability parameters to multiple groups; inhabitants, architects, and developers. Interestingly, the initiatives of KUKA gradually transferred to local inhabitants who became the best advocates and teachers of sustainability. To conclude, Kronsberg on the suburbs of Hannover demonstrates a simultaneous implementation of a battery of sustainable initiatives embedded in a vision of newly created urban settlement. The “Garden City Kronsberg” delivers Hannover principles in an attempt to restore our connections with nature in multiple ways. Layers of diverse sustainability initiatives pertaining to natural environment were carefully implemented with the participation of inhabitants. This required more complex integration of planning activities that needed to be coordinated and managed continuously. At the same time, carefully implemented diverse solutions allowed generation of more choices to operate in or accommodating the nature without overloading it. This is a superior way of ecological footprint of the settlement. Implementing reforestation, sustainable landscaping and water concepts integrated with spatial organization for higher population densities in the fringes of Hannover is a viable precedent for sustainable urban living that can at the same time mitigate climate change or global warming. It helps to restore biodiversity, improve environmental health, reduce energy costs and generate more aesthetically satisfying environments. Kronsberg is still a drop in the ocean. Cities with their growing inhabitants need to sign up to be part of global matrix of nature and acknowledge a shift of paradigm toward a more sustainable life style. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank the support of Roger Williams University through a “RWU Research Foundation Grant”, RWU Professional Development Fund and Ahlborg Professorship Fund through RWU School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation to pursue a research on sustainability on two world expositions, EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany and EXPO 2005 in Aichi, Japan. I would also like to thank Karin Rumming for providing me the use of plans and maps on Kronsberg Garden City from various publications; to Dipl.-Ing. Nil Berke, Architect, and Dipl.-Ing Torhan Berke, Engineering Consultant for their superb support through my research and guidance on numerous site visits in Kronsberg; and finally, to my graduate assistant Jordana Psiloyenis for all the help she gave me including technical assistance.

13