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Our Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe class has ended (except for me grading their final research papers), and we have all returned home or scattered across Europe for more travel before school kicks in. It was a wonderful trip. Not only did we all learn a great deal about Europe, a great deal about traveling, and about sustainable urban ideas, but also about ourselves. The students were amazing; I dragged them from train to train to city to city, and from hostel to hostel and neighborhood to neighborhood; and they kept their energy up, their good humor and spirit, their curiosity, and their generous natures. As a teacher, you can’t ask for more.

There are some specific thank yous in order. First and foremost, is my wife, Kerry. She was our trip coordinator extraordinaire, but far more. She was friend, nurse, doctor, mother, big sister, and counselor for all of the students, and there for me every step of the way. I also want to thank our three fabulous grad students: Sasha Wisotsky, Jessica DeLora and Alex Harker. They helped with nearly every blog entry, deftly driving around the computer program, finding the great pictures and making sure we had something to say. For the last few blog entries, the rest of the class also put together the material, photos and ideas. At the risk of embarrassing them all, thank you to the 2009 SCONERS (that is; “Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe in the Rain” – since it rained a lot!):

Cindy and Jenny Bailey, Gary Bladen, Alex Byrne, Dasha Davidenko, Jessica DeLora, Gabrielle Donoff (aka Canada), Ryan Doyle (aka “to Doyle”), Cassie Freitas, Alex Harker, Lynn Hiel, Bryan Hull, Maggie Jacoby, Janice Lau, Alex Lemberg, Kelly Lier, Ryan McCarter, Carmut Me, Marjorie Phan, Adam Rubin, Toni Shapovalova, Gil Valencia, Emmanuel Villegas, Laura Weinstein, Beth Williams, Sasha Wisotsky, Ruth Xochihua, and Joanne Yee.

This will be the last blog for a while. Thanks to those who noticed us; I hope it was interesting, maybe even enlightening, or at least fun. We may pick up the thread and do some blogs about sustainability over the course of the next few months. We may also try to put some of our best video segments of the tour up on the site. So, pop in occasionally and see what we have added and what we are up to. By the way, the group photos (so far) include one shot of the whole class at the European Parliment in Strasbourg, standing where all the dignitaries get their phot shoot; a shot of some class members enjoying the castle at Egiskov near Odense, Denmark; and a shot of some of the class enjoying the sunset at the Slossberg, overlooking Freiburg, Germany.




Cheers!

Freiburg on Foot

Our weary legs may be an indication of how walkable (or not walkable!) our latest ‘home’ city of Freiburg is. In the past four days, we have been exploring the city on foot and discovering how pedestrian friendly Freiburg truly is.

The compact and high density core creates a center which meets local and tourist needs. People of all ages venture out on foot to reach cafes, shops, markets and other services within a short radius of their starting point. With no automobiles allowed within the core, the tram system is heavily relied on to further explore Freiburg. The central train station is right next to the core, bringing travelers directly in to the city.

The walking surface itself is to be admired- the entire core is cobble stone, pattered to divide pedestrians and cyclists, and mimic the river which flows through the city. The stones themselves are split river stones that provide a more uniform surface than traditional cobblestone. Despite all there is to see between the beautiful landscape and buildings, it is worth keeping your eyes to the ground to catch the mosaic markers in front of commercial spaces. Traditionally, these mosaics matched the goods sold inside, for example scissors for a tailor or a pretzel for the bakery.

For those who need to escape the bustling city, the Dreisam river is easily accessible due to its multi-use paths and many crossing bridges. The Black Forest also borders the city and is connected with nature trails and trams.

Thanks to all this walking, I think we deserve some Black Forest cake!

Freiburg: A River Runs Through It

The Dreisam is a river that runs straight through a large portion of the city and is diverted around town for a variety of purposes. The river, which has been artificially constructed away from its original flow in the late 1800’s is surrounded by greenery and excellent bicycle and pedestrian pathways. The city has an unusual system of gutters (called Bächle) that run throughout its centre. These Bächle, once used to provide water to fight fires and feed livestock, are constantly flowing with water diverted from the Dreisam. These Bächle were never used for sewage, as such usage could lead to harsh penalties, even in the Middle Ages. During the summer, the running water provides natural cooling of the air, and offers a pleasant, gurgling sound. It is said that if you fall or step accidentally into a Bächle, you will marry a Freiburger, dor 'Bobbele'.


Uses:
The river contributes to drainage for the city helping the water flow through parts of the city easily (no flooding due to diversion)
People along side the river use it for irrigating their plants, crops, and gardens
There are many areas for recreation such as swimming, biking, walking, exercise for people and their pets, and a calm place to sit
It is also a prime area for artists to perform graffiti and “rock art” giving them creative spots away from buildings and downtown
Not much of a use but it is aesthetically pleasing to view in downtown areas
Another possible use although I did not see any might be fishing

Accessibility:
Frequent access points make the river accessible from many places along it.
A paved path on one side eases in bike, roller blade and wheel chair use, making pedestrian traffic safer on the unpaved side.
All stairways on the paved side are equipped with ramps to facilitate wheeled travelers.
Clear signage makes it clear where bikes and mopeds are allowed and forbidden.
A variety of vehicles and travelers were seen, including different kinds of bicycles, mopeds, Nordic skiers and service vehicles.
The river itself was easy to access from the paths, and many people were seen sticking their feet in, rinsing their hands, and wading to their ankles.
Although there were a few benches along the way, there could have been more places to sit.

Public Art In Underpasses & Connection To Biodiversity:
Along and inside the river, it is easy to spot formal and informal art installations. From sculptures to graffiti, there is evidence that the Dreisam incorporates art into public spaces.
In the core of the city, the sculptures emerge midstream in the Bächle or punctuate the end of a Bächle path. See pictures of the crocodile and hands & feet in the slideshow for examples of this.
Alongside the river, train tracks and road overpasses are host to a variety of murals and graffiti pieces. These walls are thickened by an unknown number of paint layers beneath the current (and temporary graffiti) murals at the surface. We learned that the City of Freiburg issues graffiti permits to some artists, allowing graffiti in certain areas of the city. Some of the graffiti pieces are more artistic and sophisticated than others, but at minimum, the use of color in all of the graffiti provides a pleasing compliment to the interplay of natural and urban landscape.
Some murals seem to reflect on the uses of the river, with one saying, “Keep it Cool,” perhaps referencing the river’s ability to act as a natural cooling system for the city.

Physical/Social/Psychological Benefit:
The Dreisam river not only contributes to the aesthetics of the community, but to the physical, psychological, and social health of the citizens as well. One can find individuals strolling, sitting, and splashing around in the river at all hours.

Physical health:
Contributes to an active life style
Walking (alone, with a friend, dog)
Jogging

The soothing rushing of the river allows individuals to unwind and relax. There are numerous benches conveniently dispersed along the river bank; giving people a place to sit and meditate.

Psychological benefit
Relax, unwind, meditate (after day of work)
Quick getaway: free, close in distance.
Reconnect with self/personal growth

The river bank is also a great place to hangout with friends and family, contributing to the social health of the city's citizens.

Social benefit
A place to come together with friends/relatives and chat/hangout
Reconnect
Nurture relationships

Comparison of Rieselfeld and Vauban

Vauban and Rieselfeld are new districts of the City of Freiburg, Germany. As of 2008 there are 6,500 residents in Rieselfeld compared to the 5,000 residents in Vauban. Both districts were planned to be sustainable urban developments along tramlines. Despite their similarities it is amazing how site locations and decisions made during the planning resulted in two very different developments.

Rieselfeld felt underdeveloped despite having a higher density than Vauban. There are several explanations for this. Rieselfeld has a past as a sewage leach field. For this reason, there were no existing trees and hence all vegetation is new and almost insignificant in comparison to the built structures. It is anticipated that once the trees mature they will fill many of the currently vacant feeling areas. Less pedestrian oriented, Rieselfeld is too large to be a comfortable human scale. Over the next two years approx 1,000 more units will be added, so the additional units might ultimately change the feeling of the space.

Vauban is a former military area for the Nazi and then French army. Much of the existing vegetation, including mature trees, has been preserved and the residents have been proactive about planting. Even the main street along which the tram line runs is carpeted with grass. The grass provides a practical solution for reducing up to 50 percent of the noise from the tram line. The result is a lushly vegetated district.

A Rieselfeld generic and homogeneous architecture has led to a sterile environment. A primary reason that Vauban is characterized by more diverse spaces and architecture is because of what Germans refer to as “construction groups.” Construction groups offer an alternative to standard developments. Babette Köhler, the Director of Urban Development for the City of Freiburg, explains construction groups as follows. If a group wants to develop they make a contract between each other and then present themselves to the city to request a site. Such groups get priority and the city tries to meet any special needs they might have. After the land is purchased from the city they are free to build. At Rieselfeld the buildings are 20 percent construction groups and 80 percent developer based versus the reverse at Vauban. A comparison of Vauban and Rieselfeld shows how construction group based housing can lead to a more architecturally diverse district.

The disadvantage to construction groups is apparent in terms of social housing. When developers build social housing, they get financial support from the city. Construction groups are less likely to incorporate social housing. There is about 10 percent social housing in Rieselfeld and less in Vauban.

At Rieselfeld there are a lot of parking under structures. It is required that there be one parking spot per household according to the residential contract. At Vauban, the contract was written so that 40 percent of people agreed not to have cars, and so no parking had to be built for them. These Vauban residents were possibly motivated by the $40,000 cost of buying a parking space.

It is apparent that there are many young families in both districts. Green space and reduction of car traffic has lead to children appropriating more areas as play space. As one Rieselfeld mother commented, parents feel safe letting their kids run around. Both had swales for storm water management. According to Wulf Dasseking, the Planning Director of Freiberg, the primary motivation for on site infiltration is to reduce flooding in local creeks. Both districts have standards for energy consumption with a focus on energy savings. Both developments provide a refreshing alternative to standard suburban developments.


Vauban



Rieselfeld

Solar Energy Use in Freiburg, Germany

As the need for sustainable technologies increases, Freiburg, Germany is
emerging as an important city that greatly contributes to solar research and development.

Germany’s policy programs are designed to increase demand for solar
technologies. Consequently, there will be lower production costs and an increase the price effectiveness of solar energy. In order to encourage the adoption of solar technology, Germany has passed a law rewarding those using renewable energy sources. The Renewable Energy Law requires power companies to pay a specified price per kWh produced at the peak rate, guaranteed for twenty years, to individuals who have installed PV’s on their own private buildings. On average, the payback period to recuperate one’s initial investment is ten years. After this period, all energy generated by the solar array can be considered profit. This program has proved successful as demonstrated by the prevalence of solar technology in Vauban, a small neighborhood in Southern Germany.

Vaauban is a new innovative neighborhood that has demonstrated significant solar technology. With more than 1800 hours of sunshine each year Freiburg has an annual radiation intensity of 1117 kilowatts per square meter, it is one of the sunniest cities in Germany. The pilot building for this innovative neighborhood was the Heliotrope, a rotating solar tree house which follows the movements of the sun. Vauban quickly expanded as architects from all over the world exhibited their most cutting edge building designs that incorporated highly efficient and aesthetically integrated solar technologies. Solar arrays are not only installed on residential homes, but also form a long sound barrier to shield the noise from the adjacent freeway.

The experimental community demonstrates the benefits of solar energy in terms of climate protection, economy, and urban development and continues to inspire the next generation of architects, engineers, planners, designers, students, and citizens.

As a class we visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany. It has been instrumental to the development of solar technology. On our class tour of the institute on July 28th, 2009, the hallway was lined with numerous solar technology inventions. For example, a press statement was released recently announcing a 99% efficient inverter.

Other ISE innovations draw their inspiration from nature. A solar hot water heater piping system is modeled after human blood vessels, which have the most efficient heat transfer. In addition, the institute has developed an anti-reflective material that imitates the light intensity mechanism in a moth’s eyes.

Odense: Bike City Denmark?

We visit Odense each year on our sustainability tour, not so much because of their sustainable technologies or new developments, but because they have transformed their transportation infrastructure into a bike-first system, and for the gracious, inter-connected system of green spaces, parks, rivers and creeks that dot the city-scape. Each year, the city plays host to 30 of us, lending us their city bikes (which are of great quality), and leading us on a wonderful bike tour in and around the city. This year’s tour included all of the bike system facilities (various parking options, different types of on street and off street paths, cycle lighting and signage, cycle signals, cycle counters, air pumps, stairway ramps and other conveniences), plus many highlights of the park system including the river, and a new landfill park at the edge of the city along its port/canal. The landfill park is particularly impressive as one of the first of its kind in Denmark and a place for mountain biking, hiking, sledding (in summer!), picnics, walking, kids play areas and wildlife observation. We were hosted this year by Nanna Enriques and Dora of the city, who were generous, helpful, and very knowledgeable about how the city promotes and facilitates bike travel for all of its citizens, young and old. They even brought us coffee, tea and cakes to the landfill park as we relaxed during our bike ride.

The key elements in a bicycle system that goes beyond novelty and beyond recreation are: (1) a land use pattern and densities that make bike travel possible; (2) an inter-connected system of facilities that really think through origins and destinations; (3) facilities that overcome perceived or actual obstacles (like train tracks and highways); (4) convenience, safety and clear routes and signage; and (5) marketing and promotion that educates the residents and visitors about biking and makes it fun and important to ride to work, school or play.

The Odense bike system and park system may not be the best in the world (or maybe not even the best in Denmark – just ask the bike planners in Copenhagen!), but for this modest sized city without a lot of new development or new economic activity, it is impressive and keeps us coming back to learn, enjoy a bike ride, and appreciate the kindness and generous spirit of the city.

Aero Island in Denmark: Behind the Times or Way Ahead?

Aero is a small, idyllic island off the coast of Svenborg. To many people it is a quaint, historic relic, clinging to its past architectural and economic heritage. But, for us, their impressive ability to preserve and restore historical buildings, sites and landscapes, and their unique form of using renewable energy for most of the island’s needs is really quite progressive and certainly sustainable. Aero’s economy is mostly agricultural and tourism based; the island has three small towns (as a result of dividing up the original island land holding amongst three brothers); and it boasts one of the highest levels of renewable energy in the world, all based on local resources and design ingenuity. Our host for our day on Aero was Jess Heinemann, the community’s engineer involved in renewable energy as well as historic preservation. In fact, there seems to be little that Jess is not involved with. He lives in a restored historic house in Aeroskobing, the first town you encounter as you depart the ferry.

Aeroskobing remains as it has for hundreds of years with narrow cobblestone streets, historic houses and shops, and intimate plazas and public spaces. Their regulations for preserving history are strict and exacting, leaving little room for change and growth. Even windows and doors must conform to historic requirements. While this may seem limiting, it is designed to fulfill the community’s vision and serves to give the island its charm and tourist appeal. Preserving and reusing older buildings is a sustainable activity for various reasons: (1) retains the embodied energy of a built structure; (2) does not require new energy for construction; and (3) maintains physical scale and character at a time when auto use did not exist. They make provisions to upgrade buildings for energy efficiency, insulation and improved lighting and heating. Still, for many, the restrictions are too onerous and creativity in design reduced.

The most surprising thing about this small isolated island is the long track record with renewable energy, something in which Jess has certainly played a major role. The island boasts three massive wind turbines that generate a good bit of their electricity, modern in every way and based on our up close and personal look, quite quiet. They would have more, but residents were concerned about too many turbines changing the views. The island also has a series of small district heating plants, all based in large measure on renewable sources. Each of them uses an ingenious and fairly low tech solar thermal system including the one at Marstal, the largest of its kind in the world. Each of them also uses various bio-fuels to add to the mix in winter. In one, the primary fuel is wood pellets from waste from the Danish furniture industry. In another, they use crop waste from local farming, and also some vegetable oils like rape seed. Each has a unique mix and a unique sizing and design connected to what resources are available. Over half of the island is connected to these district heating facilities (in the towns), while the houses and farms in the countryside must fashion their own solutions. Some have so. We visited two homes (one a working farm, the other a beautifully restored farm building and leisure garden). One used heat pump technology, and solar thermal, while the farm ran mostly on bio-fuels.

Aero might look quaint as if the world and time has passed it by, but, maybe they are just a bit ahead of their time.