"Prize for Green Oases in Jena 2022" awarded

The "Green Oasis Awards in Jena 2022" were presented today. Mayor Christian Gerlitz personally presented an award of €200 to the Jena Hospice. The hospice has created a green oasis in the middle of the densely populated residential area of Lobeda on an area where a multi-storey building used to stand, in keeping with the spirit of the award. Fruit trees, bushes, herbs, various flowers and lavender provide insects and numerous other small animals with food, shelter and a habitat. The place invites staff and residents of the hospice to relax and linger. For passers-by and the many people who live in the surrounding high-rise buildings, the sight is a delight.

"With its project, the hospice has shown what can be achieved with a lot of personal commitment and what is possible in the city center. They have set an example and really deserve the recognition," emphasizes Christian Gerlitz and adds: "Green oases like this are enormously important for a variety of reasons. Greenery on and around buildings contributes significantly to the beautification of our cityscape. But above all, they also have a high urban climatic and ecological significance: rainwater is retained, stored and evaporates again. This creates a balanced microclimate in summer. The leaves bind pollutants such as CO2 and provide 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 and also practical quality of life."

Volker Blumentritt, Mayor of Lobeda, is delighted: "Where there used to be a multi-storey building, there is now a beautiful green oasis. I am delighted that this has created a beautiful place for the residents and staff of the hospice, but also for the residents and pedestrians in Lobeda to look at and linger."

Verleihung im Rahmen des Preises für Grüne Oasen in Jena 2022

© Stadt Jena

Other award winners

A total of 16 applications were received this year. From these, the jury, consisting of representatives from the voluntary sector and the administration, selected the following six award winners in addition to the recognition for the hospice. They will each receive €300 in prize money:

• Thymianweg 26 in the façade greening category
• Herderstraße 4 for its lushly planted balcony
• Bachstraße 26a, which has impressively combined lush greenery and photovoltaics on its roof terrace
• Lilienweg 7,
• Am Planetarium 31 and
• Camburger Straße 11 for their varied green front gardens and courtyards.

The "Prize for Green Oases" includes prize money totaling €2000.

"Prize for green oases in Jena 2023"

The city and jury would also like to thank all the applicants who were not selected for the prizes 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 fallow land to apply for the "Prize for Green Oases in Jena 2023". 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 application deadlines will be announced at the beginning of next year.

"Green Oases in Jena" funding guideline

In addition to the "Green Oases in Jena" prize, there is also the "Green Oases in Jena" funding guideline. This provides grants for greening buildings, unsealing areas/open space design and insect-friendly green space design. Funding is available for greening measures on existing buildings as well as unsealing and greening measures (including tree planting) for front gardens, courtyards and open spaces. Natural persons, communities of owners, companies and associations are eligible to apply.