Multifunctional Spaces for Flood Management - an Approach for the City of Hamburg, Germany

If design criterion of sewer systems is exceeded, sewer overflow and flooding of streets and properties with tremendous damage can be the consequence. Taking the risks and consequences of climate change into account, in combination with increasing surface sealing, the City of Hamburg has to face an increase of sewer overflow and flooding of streets. A broadly discussed approach for flooding problems caused by sewer overflow and surface run-off during extreme precipitation events among urban drainage planners is the implementation of multifunctional spaces as a risk prevention measure. Within the project RISA - Rain InfraStructure Adaption, HAMBURG WASSER and the State Ministry for Urban Development and Environment of Hamburg initiated pilot projects to analyze chances and opportunities for multifunctional spaces under existing conditions.