Ecsite Smart Festival Forest – Heilbronn

Inner-city forest structures, such as the climate woodland on the Theresienwiese, are part of Heilbronn’s strategy for climate-adapted urban development. Urban and highly sealed city spaces are transformed into a diverse component of green infrastructure through what may seem at first glance to be a simple yet intensive greening effort.

As part of the development of new ideas for climate-adapted festival grounds of the future, the idea was conceived – alongside the creation of retention areas and meadow borders – to develop a forest-like structure on an 800 sqm area of the Theresienwiese festival grounds, consisting of 72 trees, 83 shrubs, and approximately 2.500 perennials.

Together with seating islands made of Douglas fir and fine mist columns, a small woodland with a high-quality atmosphere was created. A temperature difference of 10 degrees was measured at the inauguration of the Smart Festival Forest during the Ecsite event.

Since then, the climate woodland has been seamlessly integrated into event concepts for festivals, concerts, and trade fairs. Students from nearby schools use the woodland during breaks as a green oasis, a place of tranquility, and a short escape into nature, consciously combined with a walk. Shielded from the loud, hot, and hectic outside world, this attractive meeting place serves as a retreat where many people can relax and unwind.