Green courtyard at Traugutta 8 – addressing a real urban problem
This is no longer just a concept or another project update. The courtyard at Traugutta 8 in Łódź is a clear example of a space that has long exposed a very real issue facing modern cities.
Until recently, the area was almost entirely sealed with concrete. During heavy rainfall, water had nowhere to infiltrate – it rapidly flowed into the drainage system, putting it under pressure. During heatwaves, the courtyard turned into a hot “urban heat island.” With no greenery, there was no retention, no evaporation, and limited ecological function.
Spaces like this – small, often overlooked courtyards – collectively amplify urban challenges: flooding, overheating, and declining quality of life.
That is why the transformation at Traugutta 8, carried out as part of the Re-public Spaces program, is not just about aesthetics. It directly responds to climate-related challenges.
The implemented solutions are designed to reverse these issues:
- permeable surfaces replacing sealed ground
- infiltration basins to retain rainwater
- vegetation supporting evaporation and cooling
- systems for rainwater retention and reuse
The result: less pressure on drainage systems during storms and lower temperatures during heatwaves.
The courtyard at Traugutta 8 highlights that the problem is not only extreme weather, but how cities are designed to handle it. Sealed, concrete-dominated spaces no longer function effectively under current climate conditions.
This transformation is more than revitalization – it is a test of a new approach to urban design.
If successful, similar solutions could become standard across Łódź.