"You just love being where it's green and shady"

Weingarten –Students and staff at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences (RWU) have worked together to build a mobile green space. It consists of a wooden frame that is planted with vegetation and features its own irrigation system. It offers several seating areas for relaxing, including tables for working, reading, and eating, and its roof ensures it remains a pleasantly shaded spot at all times. 

A total of nine students planned and built the green island as part of a sustainability project that the university offered as an elective course during the summer semester. The planning took place over the course of the semester, and during the construction phase, they received additional support from other RWU staff members, including the custodians and the technical services department.

The Green Island is a collaboration between RWU and the City of Weingarten

The project was led by Annabel Göhler, climate protection manager at RWU; Alena Spranger, climate change adaptation manager for the City of Weingarten; and Professor Dr. Markus Pfeil, sustainability officer at RWU. The project was developed in cooperation with the City of Weingarten.

The construction phase was ultimately scheduled for the week of July 20–24. In addition to the hands-on work, there were other activities on the agenda that week. For example, the students took part in a city tour during which Alena Spranger presented specific measures that are to be implemented in Weingarten in the near future to adapt to climate change.

“Climate protection is simply health protection”

They also toured a passive house and attended a lecture followed by a discussion on the topic of “Climate Change and Health.” During the lecture, Alexander Gohm from AOK Bodensee-Oberschwaben spoke about the effects of climate change on the environment and human health. “Climate protection is simply health protection,” said Alexander Gohm.

At the end of the construction week, the “green island” was officially inaugurated on Friday, July 24. The solar panel was on the roof, the water tank was installed, and the plants were ready to go. The “green room” will initially be located on the RWU campus, but thanks to its substructure, it can be easily moved with a forklift and may also be used at other locations in the future.

“We pursued many goals simultaneously with this project,” said Annabel Göhler. “On the one hand, it was important to us to convey that climate protection isn’t rocket science. The students planned and implemented it themselves.” Furthermore, the Green Island will enhance the quality of the outdoor experience at its various locations. “Where it’s green and shady,” said Annabel Göhler, “that’s simply where people like to be best.”

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Text: Caroline Kolb