Climate change and increasing urbanization and densification within urban spaces require new ways and solutions for a good quality in life and living circumstances within urban environments. Increasing temperatures are caused by urban spaces and agglomerations per se but are additionally intensified by climate change. Evaporation in cities is reduced because of the percentage of sealed surfaces, at the same time solar radiation is accumulated by the surfaces of buildings and streets. This leads to the development of Urban Heat Islands, which means that the temperatures in the cities can partly outnumber those of the surrounding areas significantly. Summer heat can lead to negative impacts on living qualities, the well-being of the citizens and to physical health consequences, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants, children, the elderly and people who are sick or invalid. Because of the demographic developments the percentage of older people within the population is increasing. Currently 24,4% of the Austrian population is more than 60 years old (2017), for 2080 the prognosis calculates 35%.

Considering the circumstances of climate change, the densification of the cities and the Urban Heat Island-phenomenon, it is necessary to find ways to antagonize the urban heat – especially for vulnerable population groups. This is why the project „GREEN: Cool & Care“ is addressing innovative greening solutions based on the specific exemplary demonstration objects in Lower Austria. The care and nursing centres in Lower Austria will be serving as examples for finding innovative solutions for living walls and green open spaces, adapted to the requirements and wishes of the targeted groups (vulnerable residents of the addressed care and nursing homes, as well as the nurses and caregivers). Those technical innovations will be put through a profound monitoring, with technical as well as social parameters and criteria. Special attention lies in the interdisciplinary cooperation within the team of building physics engineers, landscape designers, landscape gardeners, social scientists, professionals regarding caregiving, as well as delegates of the care and nursing homes. Furthermore, a platform is going to be provided, which unites delegates of businesses as well as experts, who are dealing with the subject of greening in and around nursing homes, assisted living homes or hospitals, in the context of discussion rounds. The project „GREEN: Cool & Care“ points out ways for optimized measures and fields of actions regarding the microclimate for the care and nursing homes of tomorrow and is an outstanding example for the interaction of technical and social innovations.