The redesign of Schgraffer Square brings the historic beer garden back into the urban landscape – interpreted in a contemporary way. A light grove of tall trees provides shade and enhances the quality of stay, while gravel surfaces and flower beds enrich the square’s atmosphere. By reducing sealed surfaces and introducing targeted greenery, the design not only mitigates summer overheating but also improves water retention. The square becomes part of the sponge city concept, storing rainwater and gradually releasing it into the ground – a sustainable contribution to urban climate adaptation. The flexible uses – from gastronomy to festivals and markets – make Schgraffer Square a vibrant, urban meeting place.
Schgraffer-Square, Italy
Client: City of Bolzano
Construction phase: January 2024 – May 2024
Partner:
OFAS Architecture
Rainwater as a Resource – Climate-Resilience through the Sponge City Principle
Schgraffer Square becomes a functional component of the sponge city, making it climate-resilient for the future. Through surface unsealing, rainwater can infiltrate directly on-site – not only from the square itself but also from adjacent roofs and terraces. Three underground infiltration shafts capture large amounts of water during heavy rainfall and direct it specifically to the root zones of the trees. There, the water is stored, gradually released into the groundwater, and utilized for natural cooling through evaporation. This ensures that the square remains pleasant to use even on hot days and resilient to extreme weather conditions
