Almost everyone knows the paths along the Outer Alster, in Lohsepark and in the park of the Neue Mitte Altona. Absolutely normal? Think! The MOPO explains what’s behind it and how they are helping our city with climate change.
Hot dry periods and heavy rain: the weather in Hamburg is also becoming more and more extreme. At the same time, natural soil disappears under asphalt. Because the rainwater cannot seep away in this way, it is diverted through the sewer system. Surfaces heat up, trees are stressed.
HanseGrand’s ways help with climate change
The “sponge city” is supposed to change that: rainwater is to be stored in the soil of the city in order to supply nature in summer and to cool it through evaporation. In our Hanseatic city, there are even paths and squares that many Hamburg residents walk across every day – and do not even know what is crunching under their feet.
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“The types of rock lie next to each other in our paths without glue like a puzzle”, explains Kathrin Pape, regional manager of the North German company “HanseGrand” and daughter of the founder, MOPO. “This is how air and water get into the ground underneath.” Trees are also happy about this: because their roots no longer have to grow upwards – and thus do not cause the stumbling blocks and cracks that occur on asphalt bike paths.
Weg-Technik from Hamburg: The family company exports the idea abroad
But what sounds so simple is not: For years the family company has been working on the secret key raw material, which Pape calls “magic sand”. “There are high standards for such routes in the city, because they are used a lot,” says Pape. They shouldn’t dust, puddle, smear, and be robust. In 2020, the company was even recognized for this by the Federal Environment Agency.
“HanseGrand” has already laid paths in parks throughout Hamburg, along with cycle paths, parking lots, schoolyards and hiking trails. They are also becoming increasingly popular with private customers. Now the company is also exporting its idea abroad.
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