Meiningen installs Thuringia’s first long-term outdoor CityBreeze
Meiningen is renowned for its sophisticated architecture and significant cultural history. However, starting March 19th, there will be “always something new” to discover on the marketplace. Just in time for the awakening of spring and as a highlight for the thousands of visitors attending the MDR Thuringia Easter Walk (“Osterspaziergang”), an innovative technology is moving into the city center: the CityBreeze.
Modern City Marketing Meets Natural Cooling
On heavily sealed surfaces like the marketplace, temperatures can soar during the summer. Meiningen GmbH is addressing this with a forward-looking solution. The CityBreeze is far more than a digital advertising medium. Harnessing the power of living moss, it filters the air and provides natural cooling. This benefits not only the passers-by lingering on the integrated seating but also the surrounding cafés, as the fresh, purified breeze drifts toward their outdoor seating areas.
Dirk Bradschetl, Citymanagement/Managing Director of Meiningen GmbH, commented on the installation:
“Meiningen is ready for its grand appearance—and for us, that means uniting technological innovation with ecological added value. The CityBreeze is the perfect interface between city management and climate protection. We are visually enhancing the marketplace, offering our citizens and guests a fresh breeze, and utilizing state-of-the-art digital communication to present Meiningen as an attractive business and tourism location.”
Photo: GCS
One Screen for the Entire City
Meiningen GmbH uses the 75-inch display to bring the city’s diversity to life. Whether it is up-to-date information on market days, highlights from the Meiningen Theater, or tips from the Tourist Information — communication happens right where life pulses. Thanks to its angled positioning at the market entrance, the screen is optimally visible to all visitors. Furthermore, the system provides real-time data on air quality and local weather via the AirCare dashboard, marking a significant step forward for Meiningen on its path to becoming a Smart City.
Marvin Reß, Urban Development, City of Meiningen:
“With its integrated climate protection concept, Meiningen has set clear strategic goals. The installation at the marketplace demonstrates how we are actively combatting urban heat islands. In terms of climate adaptation, the CityBreeze contributes further to optimizing the microclimate. The AirCare dashboard is particularly valuable to us: the climate and weather data from the CityBreeze provide precise insights into the urban climate, which we can export and use as a data basis for future planning.”
Regionality at its Core: Wood from the Thuringian Forest
At Green City Solutions, sustainability also means short distances. The CityBreeze in Meiningen is a “true child of the region” — the larch wood used originates from the Thuringian company Gaßmann in the Thuringian Forest. Complemented by engineering made in Brandenburg and control technology based in Saxony-Anhalt, the installation is a flagship project for East German innovative strength.
Photos: Meiningen GmbH Peter Steinwachs & GCS
Our CEO and Mitgründer Peter Sänger, stated:
“We are exceptionally pleased that the city of Meiningen is pursuing a climate-resilient and digital future together with Green City Solutions. For us, this project is much more than a technical installation; it is the beginning of a partnership
Meiningen pursues ambitious and absolutely worthwhile goals in integrated climate protection. The fact that our joint project plays a role here — both as
a natural cooling station through our moss technology and as a digital information platform for modern city marketing — underscores the innovative power of the region. We are proud to accompany the municipality on this pioneering path.
Regional value creation is particularly close to my heart in this project. As an East German company, it is part of our DNA to strengthen local cycles. For example, the wood for the seating in Meiningen comes from suppliers directly in Thuringia. Thus, the CityBreeze in Meiningen combines state-of-the-art environmental technology with the demand for short supply chains and regional connections.”
Ready for the Easter Walk
When thousands of hiking enthusiasts arrive in Meiningen for the MDR Thuringia Easter Walk on Easter Sunday (MDR Osterspaziergang in Meiningen), the city will showcase its most beautiful and modern side. The CityBreeze will serve not only as an information point but also as a symbol for a city that perfectly harmonizes nature and urbanity. Future plans include expanding the marketplace into an even larger feel-good space through additional greenery and displays.
Visit us starting March 19th at the marketplace and experience the future of urban air and sustainable communication!
Photos: GCS