The Overflow Oasis: Experience the sponge city, touch climate adaptation

Sunday morning in the Binz/Alt-Wiedikon district: A: "Did you see? The inflatable duck is swimming today!" B: "Hmm, you're right! It must have rained quite a bit last night." A: "I wonder how long it will take for the water to seep away again?" B: "It's funny. My neighbor said that something like this is called a rain garden and that you have to build it that way these days." A: "Well, it doesn't really look like a garden yet. But thanks to the duck, it has at least become a little more colorful!" B: "I think it's also really good to hold back rain on site and not drain it away. This is better for the environment. I heard that once on SRF." A: "You mean that there will be more and more in the future? Like recycling stations and cycle routes?" B: "That would be desirable!" That's exactly what it might sound like, and that's exactly the idea behind the Overflow Oasis. Zurich already has numerous sponge city elements, rain gardens, infiltration troughs, and green retention areas that quietly and reliably make their contribution to climate resilience. Many of them are located directly in the neighborhood, often inconspicuous, almost like residual areas, while actively providing protection against heavy rainfall, overheating and waste of resources. The Overflow Oasis wants to change exactly that, playful and inviting. Through temporary interventions such as floating objects, seating and play elements or small pop-up events, existing sponge city elements in Binz and Alt-Wiedikon become a place of experience. An unexpected object on the water, a moment of pause, a conversation between neighbours, this is how curiosity arises all by itself. The installations are accompanied by easy, accessible knowledge transfer on site or moderated short events that make the urban water cycle tangible and understandable. The aim is for residents, passers-by and park users to perceive these places as a lively part of their neighbourhood and to appreciate them as a joint contribution to heat and heavy rain prevention. Because behind every experience there is a greater goal: a change in consciousness in everyday life. The Overflow Oasis sees itself as an instrument of climate education and public awareness – it creates low-threshold encounters with climate infrastructure that contribute to behavioural changes in the long term: more understanding, more appreciation, more commitment to a resilient city. The project is intended as a prototype, what is being created here in the pilot district is to grow, migrate and continue to bloom elsewhere.

Temporary Intervention at Europaalle: Togetherness Bench by Yael Ander https://2024.designweeks.ch/de/veranstaltungen/1204-togetherness-bench

We are an organization (e.g. association, foundation, educational institution, NGO)

The Overflow Oasis

I/we are still looking for comrades-in-arms

The Kollerwiese in Alt-Wiedikon is a particularly suitable location, a lively neighbourhood park that is used daily by families, children and residents of all generations. The park's existing green infrastructure offers ideal conditions for a playful intervention that is low-threshold, easily accessible and anchored in the middle of neighbourhood life.