Transforming an outdoor space into a climate-resilient community space

Key Learnings

• Collaboration improves climate change adaptation: Creating climate-adapted buildings or gardens can be a complex task, especially when involving multiple homeowners. Collaboration and learning from each other can greatly speed up the process. In addition to extensive consultations, an advisor facilitated a number of stakeholder meetings.
• Cooling and collecting rainwater in a densely built-up district: A garden reduces temperatures during heatwaves and enables rainwater to infiltrate the ground during heavy rains. Intermediate Bulk Containers collect excess water and make it available during dry periods.
• Targeted financing supports community-led adaptation initiatives, engage citizens and increases climate resilience. Various subsidies and facilities in Amsterdam encourage residents to make their surroundings more climate-resilient and greener. Measures range from financial contributions and covering implementation costs to free advice and installing nature-inclusive measures in public spaces.

Summary

The Homeowner Association’s initiative redeveloped the courtyard by engaging citizens to remove the paving and plant grass, shrubs and trees. The project demonstrates the power of collective action in tackling climate adaptation. Collaboration between the association’s members, the water authority, and the municipality has delivered a future-proof space that benefits the entire neighbourhood.

Contact

Amsterdam Weerproof
infoweerproof [dot] nl (info[at]weerproof[dot]nl)