In Ettelbruck, the transformation of a former flood-prone car park into a vibrant Green Hub is showing how climate adaptation and community life can go hand in hand. What began as a technical response to recurring flooding is now evolving into a shared public space, shaped directly by the people who will use it.
The cleared site, once dominated by parked cars and hard surfaces, is being reimagined as a multi-functional area combining biodiversity, climate resilience and community use. Rather than designing everything behind closed doors, the municipality and project partners have invited residents, associations and local stakeholders to help shape the next phase.
From Car Park to Community Space
The location of the Ettelbruck Green Hub is both strategic and symbolic. Situated in an area historically affected by flooding, it has long been recognised as a space in need of a new purpose. Clearing the car park was the first visible step – creating a blank canvas and reducing impermeable surfaces that contributed to runoff and heat build-up.
Now, attention has turned to what comes next:
- How can the space store and slow down water during heavy rainfall?
- How can it provide shade and comfort during hotter summers?
- And just as importantly, how can it become a place where people actually want to spend time?
These questions are being explored not only by planners and engineers, but by the community itself.
Co-Creating the Green Hub
Ettelbruck has placed public engagement at the centre of the design process. Community groups, cultural organisations and residents of different ages have been invited to share ideas and preferences for the new space. Workshops and discussions are focusing on several key themes:
- Biodiversity planting – Residents are helping to identify the types of planting they would like to see, from pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs to trees that can provide shade and seasonal interest. The aim is to create a space that supports local wildlife while also being attractive and easy to maintain.
- Lighting and safety – Evening use and perceived safety are important considerations. Input from local users is helping to guide decisions on where to place lighting, how bright it should be, and how to avoid light pollution while still making the space feel welcoming after dark.
- Cultural and social uses – The Green Hub is being designed to host small events, markets, performances or community gatherings. Discussions with local associations are helping to identify what types of infrastructure are needed – from flexible open areas to seating, power access or temporary structures.
- Seasonal events and year-round use – Residents are contributing ideas on how the space can adapt through the seasons: a cool, shaded place in summer, a visually interesting landscape in autumn and winter, and a lively setting for springtime activities.
This co-creation approach is helping to ensure that the final design reflects real needs and desires, rather than a purely top-down vision.
Climate-Resilient and Socially Vibrant
The Ettelbruck Green Hub is not just a greening project; it is part of a broader effort to strengthen climate resilience and liveability in the town. The Cool Neighbourhoods project provides tools and methods – such as heat-stress analysis and the Liveability Index – to help identify where interventions are most needed and how they can deliver multiple benefits.
In Ettelbruck, this translates into a space that:
- contributes to flood mitigation through improved water infiltration and smart landscaping
- reduces heat stress by introducing shade, vegetation and more permeable surfaces
- enhances public comfort and well-being, offering a place to sit, meet and relax
- supports social cohesion, giving different groups a shared space to use and care for
By combining technical solutions with strong community involvement, the Green Hub is poised to become a reference point for how small urban spaces can be reimagined in a changing climate.
A Shared Asset for the Future
As the design is refined and implementation begins, Ettelbruck’s experience highlights a key lesson from Cool Neighbourhoods: cooler, greener spaces are most successful when they are co-created. The Green Hub is being built not only for the community, but with the community – increasing the likelihood that it will be used, valued and maintained over time.
In the coming months, further engagement activities and progress updates will keep residents informed and involved. The transformation from a flood-prone car park to a multi-functional Green Hub is still underway, but one thing is already clear: the future of this space is being shaped together.