Weidenpavillon im Senefelder Park

A previously little-used, unshaded area in Senefelder Park is being transformed into a lively, climate-friendly place to spend time through the construction of a willow pavilion.

Although the square is heavily frequented due to the adjacent playground and the nearby Rolandpassage shopping center, it is rarely used in the height of summer. The main reason, as often noted by residents, is the extreme heat caused by the acute lack of shade. The project’s aim is to design public space in a way that is livable, climate-conscious and responsive to people’s needs. Building a shading structure made of living willow makes it possible to use the space even during high temperatures and contributes to adapting urban life to climate change.

The project will begin in early April 2026 with a three-day workshop. Together with participants, three round raised beds will be built and filled with soil. The project will continue at the end of April with a joint effort involving volunteers and local residents to bundle and arrange willow rods. The resulting elements will be used to create large arches, which will be planted in the raised beds. The willow pavilion will remain in Senefelder Park as an expression of this participatory process, providing shade and cooling for families and residents living in the neighbourhood for 10 years.

The collective ‘hada – Werkstatt für Gemeinwohl’ (hada – workshop for the common good) combines art, design and social practice to design public spaces together with citizens of a city. Partners in the project are Senefelder Quartiersmanagement, the departments for planning and construction and for environment and climate, and the municipal utilities.