EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The Danish Municipality is recycling surplus concrete to form habitats for marine creatures
On 15 October, the Danish Municipality of Aarhus proudly shared that it is creating new habitats for small marine creatures by recycling construction materials. Currently, Lighthouse United and Per Aarsleff A/S are working together to build the tallest residential building in the municipality.
During the construction of ‘Lighthouse’, the two bodies came up with the idea of recycling excess concrete locally instead of driving it back to the factory. Thus, the idea to use blocks of concrete to construct artificial reefs where algae can grow, crabs can hide, and fish can breed, was born.
Until now, there has been a lack of habitats for marine creatures in Aarhus’ canals. To change this and promote biodiversity, Aarhus Municipality collaborated with Lighthouse United and Per Aarsleff A/S to launch “Recycle Reef”.
This project was officially inaugurated on 14 October when a group of students from Samsøgade School helped the municipality pour 4 tonnes of mussels into the city’s canals. The organisers hope that the mussels will help convert the concrete blocks into artificial reefs that will attract more marine creatures to the area.
The brown dots illustrate where concrete reef will be established, the purple ones show the mussel reefs, and the blue-green ones depict where eelgrass is to be planted in the future
Source: Aarhus Municipality
Councillor for Technology and the Environment Bünyamin Simsek commented on the initiative, noting: “This is a wonderful project that puts both biodiversity and sustainability on the agenda. Life below the water surface gets a much-needed boost, and at the same time, it contributes to a more exciting urban environment for the people of Aarhus.”
Simsek’s statement was echoed by the Project Director at Per Aarsleff A/S, Kim Peters, who shared that the company wants to utilise residual construction materials in a way that benefits the local area. Furthermore, Peters highlighted the project’s potential to influence future developments:
“It’s definitely an exciting way to think about recycling, and I think we’ll see more of this in the future.”
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
And the current administration plans to make Jardin del Turia Europe’s largest city green space by extending it to the sea
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team