Award for green oases in Jena 2021 presented

The "Prize for Green Oases in Jena 2021" (formerly the "Green Façade Prize") was presented on October 15. The main prize of €500 was presented by Mayor Christian Gerlitz in person.

"Greenery on and around buildings contributes significantly to the beautification of our cityscape. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, building greenery is of great importance for the urban climate and ecology. Rainwater is retained, stored and evaporated again, creating a balanced microclimate in summer. The leaf mass binds pollutants such as CO2, reduces noise and provides food and habitat for numerous animals such as birds and insects. Last but not least, the color green has a calming and relaxing effect on us humans - green is a piece of perceived quality of life," emphasized Christian Gerlitz.

This year's winners of the competition, the Lätsch family, were delightedwith the award :

"We simply enjoy gardening and love it green and full of flowers. If it also brings a smile to the faces of people who walk past our house, all the better.We will of course invest the prize money in the green oasis in and around our house. "

The mayor's congratulations were echoed by Hans-Detlev Boock, owner of the Jena nursery "Boock Gartenkultur", who presented a voucher for a purchase at his company in addition to the cash prize. Boock is one of the members of the jury that reviews the applications received each year and selects the best for the award ceremony. The jury is completed by landscape architect Wolfram Stock, a representative of the NABU district association in Jena and representatives of the city council. This year, the choice fell on the Lätsch family, who transformed a gray dreariness around their house into a green and blooming oasis with a green façade and lush front garden planting.

The Nitsche family and Holger Herrmann were delighted to receive recognition prizes of €200 each and vouchers from Boock. With great attention to detail, the Nitsche family has turned their balcony into a species-rich "green oasis" on Westbahnhofstrasse, which is heavily frequented by motorized traffic. In addition to a wide variety of flowering plants, there are also raised beds where edible plants are cultivated.

Holger Herrmann has been looking after the flower beds at Eichplatz for many years. Together with other volunteers, he plants annual and perennial flowering plants, waters and cares for them, making an invaluable contribution to making one of the most central squares in the city center a popular place for young and old to spend time.

Last but not least, the city and the jury would also like to thank all the applicants who were not selected for the awards this year. The city of Jena would like to invite them and all other owners and designers of ecologically and aesthetically particularly successful green façades, roofs, balconies, front gardens, courtyards and brownfield sites to apply for the "Prize for Green Oases in Jena 2022". Both long-term and temporary green spaces are eligible for the award. Applications are open to private individuals, companies, clubs, associations, planning offices and architects who own a greened property and/or have created a project and have been authorized by the owner to take part in the competition. Detailed information on how to apply and the application deadlines will be announced at the beginning of next year.

The city would also like to draw attention to the "Green Oases in Jena" funding guideline for the granting of subsidies for greening buildings, unsealing areas/open space design and insect-friendly green space design. Grants can be awarded to support greening measures on existing buildings as well as unsealing and greening measures (including tree planting) for front gardens, courtyards and open spaces.