VERD° Prototype – Frankfurt am Main, 2023

In May 2023, the first prototype of the greening system VERD° by OMC°C was installed in the backyard of the Senckenberg Naturmuseum Frankfurt and planted with a selection of seedlings. Prior to this, about 40 climbing plants were evaluated in a two-year test phase (i.e. 2 planting cycles). At two research sites, measurements and analyses were carried out regarding growth behaviour, biomass formation and climate effects. The prototype in Frankfurt is the first free-standing installation of the system in an inner-city area.

The prototype installation consists of two free-standing VERD° modules with an above-ground ring foundation. This configuration does not interfere with the ground and is suitable, for example, as a seating situation for public spaces. Each module is about 10 metres high and supports 3 planters and a total of 6 nets, each with a surface of 2.5 x 7 metres.

The site for the prototype was made available by the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN). Since summer 2023, data on the effects of the modules on microclimate and biodiversity are being collected by SGN and Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)..

The City of Frankfurt has been highly commited to the project, with particular support from the Department of Climate, Environment and Women (Dezernat für Klima, Umwelt und Frauen), and the Climate Office (Klimareferat). 50 % of the funding for the prototype in the museum's backyard was provided by the climate department's "Frankfurt frischt auf" programme.

The site is freely accessible to the public.