Watch the Video of Kranj’s Pilot Project – Adaptive Climate Resilience in a Heritage Context

Kranj’s Pilot Project – Adaptive Climate Resilience in a Heritage Context

Explore how the historic city of Kranj is pioneering climate adaptation in one of its most treasured public spaces with a creative and reversible solution that respects heritage values. This pilot action, implemented under the Be Ready project, demonstrates how innovative micro‑climate interventions can help cool dense medieval urban cores where traditional permanent measures are limited or prohibited.

At the heart of the pilot is the “Rain Zone” — a cloud‑shaped installation made from waterproof wool and equipped with a water vapor system that cools the square during hot summer days. By night, this structure transforms into a striking light installation, adding cultural and visual vibrancy to the space while serving as a popular gathering place beloved by locals, especially children and youth.

The video showcases how the intervention was co‑created with citizens, youth groups and vulnerable residents through a participatory process that began with a detailed Urban Heat Island (UHI) vulnerability assessment and continued with iterative prototyping using the Climate Sandbox methodology. Close collaboration with heritage protection authorities ensured the installation remained fully temporary, reversible, and compliant with conservation requirements — a key factor for solutions in protected urban environments.

Watch the video to see how the Rain Zone brings cooling relief, visual appeal and community engagement to Kranj’s historic core - offering a model for other heritage cities across the Danube region facing rising temperatures and urban heat island challenges.