Damsterplein, the coolest square in town (LIFE COOL SQUARE)

Urban locations, such as city squares, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to more severe heat island effects and flooding following storms, for example. There is a need for innovative and integrated climate adaptive design for urban locations, whilst improving the living environment.

LIFE COOL SQUARE is an initiative to pro-actively and collectively tackle the negative climate change effects and to enhance the quality of life in the city centre environment in Groningen, the Netherlands, particularly focussing on Damsterplein. Damsterplein is located on the roof of a subterranean parking garage and it is particularly subjected to high temperatures and at risk of flooding after heavy rainfall. 

LIFE COOL SQUARE aims at transforming the Damsterplein into a climate-adaptive, resilient, flexible and multifunctional urban location. The project team will pursue activities to give the location and municipality of Groningen a “sponge city” effect to prevent extreme drought and flooding. The project also aims at reducing urban heat island effects and negative health effects on inhabitants in the immediate and surrounding areas through extensive greening of the location. Moreover, project activities target awareness-raising to involve and motivate local residents and political stakeholders as well as to aid replication of the approach in other cities.