As part of the "Green Urban Labs II" program, I contributed to a research project led by TUM Munich and TU Vienna, collaborating with Ingolstadt’s Climate, Biodiversity, and Danube Office. Lisa Merkens from TU Munich developed a model to identify barriers and corridors for animal movement in urban areas (Faunal resistance analysis). To test the faunal resistance analysis in municipal planning, I worked on design proposals for four pilot areas in Ingolstadt, identified as gaps in the target species habitat network. The goal was to integrate analysis results into the design process and explore synergies or conflicts with current planning. Using the Animal-Aided Design (AAD) approach, which incorporates the specific needs of animals throughout their lifecycle into urban design, I assessed barriers, and potential spaces for effective implementation.

Map right: The four selected pilot areas based on the faunal resistance analysis. Fig.: Lisa Merkens and Nuria Keeve, 2024

At the northern edge of Ingolstadt, adjacent to the planned second green belt, the design for Pilot Area 1 addresses a missing link in the blackbird habitat network across agricultural land. This will be achieved by renaturalizing streams and planting trees, shrubs, and perennial meadows along the riparian zones. The land-use concept includes recreational activities on municipal land, designed to harmonize with agricultural use on private land, ensuring that the ecological functions of existing biotopes and newly created habitats are not compromised.

Pilot Area 2 is situated in an urban neighborhood where a school is currently being renovated and rebuilt. The focus here is on environmental education and creating a naturalistic schoolyard to enhance students' experiences with nature. The diverse urban structure was evaluated for barriers, and potential areas for creating resources beneficial to the target species were identified.

In Pilot Area 3, the bike lane presents an opportunity to transform linear roadside greenery into high-quality open spaces that serve multiple functions, including rainwater retention, heat mitigation, and enhancement of the blackbird habitat network. The southern part of Gemminger Straße, characterized by extensive paved areas, numerous parking spaces, new buildings, and garages with sparse greenery, acts as a significant barrier. There is a notable absence of trees, shrubs, and vegetation structures that could provide resources and stepping stones for blackbirds. The urban spaces in this area have substantial potential for improvement and can be enhanced with simple interventions. A portion of the parking area will be converted into unsealed open spaces featuring diverse vegetation, ranging from perennial meadows to micro-forests, to optimize connectivity. Additionally, involving residents in the development of private green spaces, such as front yards, will help create valuable resources for the blackbird species.

In Pilot Area 4 along the Danube, the focus is on enhancing the connection between the riverbanks through visual links, water access, and naturalistic shoreline design. The Ingolstadt railway bridge is planned to be transformed into a green connection element.