MQ Goes Green: Work Begins on the Permanent Landscaping of the Main Courtyard

Accordingly, the MQ main courtyard will be planted with four permanent perennial islands featuring climate-resilient trees, perennials, and grasses. These measures represent another step toward transforming the MQ into an energy-efficient and environmentally conscious campus and achieving climate neutrality by 2030. In addition to landscaping the outdoor spaces, the key pillars of the sustainability strategy include the switch to LED lighting, a comprehensive waste management plan, and artistic projects.

In the first phase of the long-term landscaping of the MQ Main Courtyard, the axis from the main entrance to the portico of Hall E&G will be implemented first. The new green spaces are designed to follow the flow of movement and leave the historic sightlines unobstructed. In a later phase, the area around the MQ Art Box, as well as the Fürstenhof and the MQ forecourt, will be developed.

The Sponge City Principle in Historic Buildings

To ensure optimal care for the plants, horticultural engineers, landscape architects, and gardeners rely on an adapted “sponge city” principle. This ecological system expands the root zone while ensuring that the plants are reliably supplied with water, air, and nutrients.

The paving slabs in the areas surrounding the perennial beds will be removed and replaced with clinker pavers. This will create a clean, defined border that blends harmoniously with the atmosphere of the MQ main courtyard.

Planting has a positive effect on the microclimate

A recent microclimate simulation for the MQ demonstrates the cooling effect of the new greenery: On a hot summer day at 2:00 p.m., the perceived temperature (PET) in the shade of the trees—which will have reached full maturity by 2035—could drop by up to 15.5 °C.

The surfaces also benefit, because while the stone paving in the main courtyard currently reaches up to 48 °C and the asphalt in the side courtyards even reaches around 55 °C, the combination of vegetation and unpaved areas provides cooling of up to 22.7 °C in the immediate vicinity of the mature trees.

A Vibrant Play of Colors

Anna Detzlhofer’s “MQ in morphosis” concept envisions a unique atmosphere for each courtyard through the selection of plants. A color gradient stretching from east to west runs across the entire site; shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white dominate the inner courtyard. In addition to the existing plants from the “MQ TreePods,” additional trees, shrubs, and colorful species will be planted.


Visits to the site are still possible.

Despite the construction phase lasting about two months (expected to continue until mid-December), the entire MQ, including all its buildings and venues, will remain largely accessible without restrictions.

Due to construction work, “Winter at the MQ” cannot take place in its usual form this year. Nevertheless, the curling rink (starting Nov. 13) on the MQ forecourt, the popular “Winter Race” (starting Nov. 15), and punch in the outdoor dining areas starting in mid-November will offer plenty of winter fun.

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