Enhancing the Attractiveness and Quality of Stay in the City Center
Bocholt is taking the lead and sending a strong signal for a livable, future-proof city center. As part of the inauguration of new urban furniture by our partner Justin‘s Design, we at Green City Solutions had the opportunity to showcase our CityBreeze. The new, greened seating furniture is an important step towards sustainably increasing both the quality of stay and the attractiveness of Bocholt’s city center, while also improving the urban climate.
“Green and Shaded Seating Without the Need to Purchase”
The wishes of Bocholt’s citizens have always been at the forefront: Surveys revealed that visitors to the city center wanted more “free” seating options where they could rest and relax without any obligation to make a purchase. The City of Bocholt and the city marketing team took this wish to heart and the new urban furniture delivers exactly that — and more. Equipped with plants and, in some cases, shaded by trees, these seats create a pleasant microclimate — an added value for the city, especially during the summer months.
Photo: GCS
The “temporary urban furniture” with seating and greenery “is intended to add a splash of green to the city center, while also improving the quality of stay and benefiting the urban climate”.
… “making the city just a bit more livable”
A few days ago, the temporary urban furniture was officially inaugurated at St.-Georg-Platz by Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff, Franz-Josef Heidermann (Board Member, Volksbank Bocholt) and Ludger Dieckhues (Managing Director, Economic Development/City Marketing) presented to the guests in attendance. The manufacturer Vision 7 and Green City Solutions provided further information on greening solutions and urban sustainability, all with the goal of improving the microclimate. The furniture is intended to be placed at various locations in the city center during the summer months in the future.
Ludger Dieckhues, Managing Director of the Economic Development and City Marketing Company (Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Stadtmarketing Gesellschaft) emphasizes:
„We have installed temporary urban furniture at twelve locations. There are many benches, all equipped with plants, some with shade and trees. In this way, we have created additional seating in the city center, which I believe further improves the quality of stay in our city center.“
„Yes, we said, let’s do something a little different“ – „it should be an eye-catcher.“
These “small oases” were “custom-made especially for Bocholt” and “with their integrated flowers and plants, they not only visually enhance the city center.”
Photos: Volksbank Bocholt
Eye-Catcher, Digitalization and Climate Adaptation
With CityBreeze, we have been able to vividly demonstrate in Bocholt how innovative technologies can contribute to climate adaptation while simultaneously advancing digitalization in urban spaces.
Our CEO and Co-Founder Peter Sänger sums it up:
“With our multifunctional moss filters, we demonstrate how digitalization and climate adaptation can go hand in hand.”
The new urban furniture is not only an eye-catcher, but also invites people to linger, communicate, and enjoy. “I believe that in good weather, it encourages people to communicate, to sit down, maybe enjoy an ice cream, and in this way, further increases both the duration and quality of stay in our city center”, adds Ludger Dieckhues.
Flexible & Multifunctional
Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff also highlights the importance of the new seating:
“Just in time for the summer season, we now have beautiful urban furniture for our city center, which enhances the quality of stay and also improves the microclimate.”
Photo: GCS
Working Together for a Greener Bocholt
The Economic Development and City Marketing Company Bocholt (Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Stadtmarketing Gesellschaft Bocholt) is committed to strengthening Bocholt as a brand. Since 1996, it has seen itself as a motivator, coordinator, and implementer for urban development.
The project as a whole is a great example of collaboration between the city, businesses, and dedicated partners. “Through funding from the city’s downtown strategy and thanks to the generous financial support of Volksbank Bocholt – which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and is using the occasion to give something back to the city and its citizens – additional benches and seating groups have been acquired for twelve selected locations in the city center.”
Volksbank Bocholt has generously supported the new benches. “The benches are custom-designed for Bocholt, provide greater quality of stay from April through autumn — and make the city just a bit more livable.”
Regarding the installation – and the acknowledgments for the support, Franz-Josef Heidermann, Board Member of Volksbank Bocholt, said:
“It was also our intention to thank the city and the citizens of Bocholt for the good cooperation here—and we wanted to set a sign on the occasion of our [125th] anniversary.”
Photos: GCS & © City Marketing
A Thank You and a Look to the Future
We look forward to further discussions and would like to thank the Economic Development and City Marketing Company, especially Ludger Dieckhues, Maren Weitauer and Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff, for the collaboration so far!
The City of Bocholt demonstrates how innovative urban furniture, digitalization, and climate adaptation can work together to make the city center more livable. The new, greened seating options are a win for everyone — for people, the urban climate and the future viability of the city.
Would you like to learn more about innovative urban greening, smart urban furniture, and sustainable solutions for livable city centers?