Vielwald.

Winner of the 2nd NEB 2025 Rising Stars Award in the category ‘Reconnecting with nature’.

The Vielwald initiative in Cologne embodies the idea of transforming a conventional urban lawn into a lush public space where residents grow plants, in collaboration with design students, for uses such as food, natural remedies and ecological materials. Since its inception in September 2023, it has been a rich educational experience for the community, which designs its own space and transforms the harvest into new resources useful to the group.

The forest garden allows residents and students to connect with nature by actively working with it and experiencing the productivity and beauty of the forest in their immediate environment. Together, they contribute to improving the air, soil and biodiversity. It also rediscovers ‘forgotten’ craft practices, which increase the sense of belonging.