Green and blue solutions for overheated cities ACT NOW in Berlin: How landscape architects are shaping adaptation to climate change
How can cities respond to the challenges of climate change and create liveable urban spaces for future generations? What role does landscape architecture play in this? These are the questions that the “ACT NOW” social event on 25 June in Berlin will explore. The German Association of Landscape Architects (bdla), Berlin/Brandenburg Regional Association, the Berlin Chamber of Architects and Technische Universität Braunschweig are jointly hosting a discussion.
The highlight of the evening will be a preview of the film “ACT NOW”, which emerged from the “STRESSTEST” contribution to the German Pavilion at last year’s 19th Venice Architecture Biennale. Curated by Nicola Borgmann, Professor Daniele Santucci, Professor Elisabeth Endres and Professor Gabriele G. Kiefer (both from TU Braunschweig), “STRESSTEST” highlights the tangible threat posed by climate change. The exhibition in Venice brought to life how the urban climate will change in the future, both physically and emotionally.
“ACT NOW” now uses selected best-practice examples to demonstrate how cities can adapt to the consequences of climate change. The project, which consists of several films, was developed at the Institute of Landscape Architecture at TU Braunschweig under the headship of Professor Gabriele G. Kiefer, together with students and in cooperation with the filmmakers from Nebelräuber Berlin.
The climate-adapted city of the future
“Adapting our cities to increasing heat and extreme weather events is one of our most important tasks,” emphasises Professor Kiefer. “With ACT NOW, we want to show that landscape architecture can provide concrete answers to these challenges that have an immediate impact on the quality of life in our cities.”
Alongside the film, the exhibition “PlatzHirschIn” will also be premiering this evening. Created by the Institute of Landscape Architecture in collaboration with photographer Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk, the photo series is a poetic tribute to the profession of landscape architects. It features key figures in urban transformation at special locations, such as in front of artist Hans Arp’s “Clouds” in the Main Lecture Hall of TU Braunschweig. The exhibition highlights the people behind the green visions of our cities’ futures.
The film and photo series form part of a series of activities on climate adaptation in overheated cities initiated by Professor Kiefer, which began with Clima-Walks and Clima-Talks and will continue with Clima-Dance, publications and exhibitions in various cities.
ACT NOW – Film, photography and discussion on the future of landscape architecture
bauhaus reuse (BHROX), Ernst-Reuter-Platz, 10587 Berlin
Opening on Thursday, 25 June 2026, 18:30
Speakers at the opening will include Lioba Lissner (bdla Berlin-Brandenburg), Eike Richter (Chamber of Architects), Oliver Schruoffeneger (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf District Councillor) and Professor Gabriele G. Kiefer (TU Braunschweig).
The social event is free of charge; no registration is required. For those wishing to stay on after the film, photography and expert discussions: the World Cup match between Germany and Ecuador will be shown via public viewing at 22:00.
The exhibition is open daily from 12:00 to 20:00 until 2 July 2026.