Temporary Trees, Lasting Impact: Bringing Green to Zurich

The hot summer days in Zurich may be over for now – but the challenge remains: in densely built-up areas, heat accumulates, creating the so-called Urban Heat Island effect. Busy, paved streets like Bahnhofstrasse heat up particularly quickly.

To counter this, the city of Zurich is testing new ways to bring greenery into the city center. As part of the pilot project "Grünes Gastspiel", around 50 young trees have been temporarily placed in special containers along Bahnhofstrasse. These allow trees to grow even on heavily paved areas, with integrated water storage and secure anchoring. The greenery is monitored with sensors measuring soil moisture, CO₂, and barometric pressure, enabling real-time tracking and providing valuable insights into the long-term potential of temporary urban greenery in Zurich.

The project aims to make the benefits of greenery visible and tangible: more shade, improved public spaces, and a more vibrant urban environment. While trees naturally thrive in soil, early positive results from temporary plantings are already evident.

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Devices for monitoring urban heat islands:
DL-BLG, DL-SHT35, DL-ATM22, 
DL-ATM41G2