A Tale of NbS Social Acceptance in Gdansk

In NICE NbS our pilots are groundbreaking areas where developed water solutions take their first steps. It’s typical when thinking about water management to think about the technical considerations to installing new facilities. What we often forget is the social component, namely, NbS acceptance, when locals come to accept and welcome new innovations in their green spaces. Below our NICE Team in Gdansk invite you into a window to the story of how Urban Real Lab 9 in Gdansk was able to win the hearts of the locals.

Can you briefly describe the NICE rain garden and its purpose?

Run off collection System at Gdansk University of Technology

The rain garden constructed on the campus of the Gdańsk University of Technology is a nature-based solution designed to retain and treat stormwater and surface runoff. Implemented as part of the Horizon 2020 NICE project, it functions as an “urban real lab” where the real-world performance of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation can be tested.

Beyond its technical role, the rain garden serves ecological, scientific, and educational purposes. Researchers monitor stormwater retention, filtration efficiency, biodiversity development, and social perception, while students and visitors use the site as a hands-on learning environment. At the same time, the installation has transformed a previously technical space into an attractive green area for the university community.

You mentioned there was some hesitation from the university administration at the beginning. What were the main concerns?

Sedimentation Tanks

Yes, there was initial hesitance from parts of the university administration and academic community during the planning phase. The main concerns focused on:

• the visual appearance of the garden and fears that it might look neglected, particularly given earlier negative experiences with poorly designed rain gardens on campus,
• potential maintenance requirements,
• technical risks related to stormwater retention and filtration performance, and
• how the installation would integrate with existing campus infrastructure.

These concerns were gradually addressed through transparent communication, stakeholder consultations, and, most importantly, by demonstrating the garden’s functionality and visual quality once it was built.

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How has social acceptance of the rain garden evolved since its installation?

The most challenging moment was before construction, convincing decision-makers and identifying a suitable location. Once the rain garden was completed, social acceptance steadily increased.

This shift was driven by several factors: the visible improvement in campus aesthetics, measurable environmental benefits, increased biodiversity, and the integration of the garden into research and teaching activities. Over time, the space evolved from a purely technical installation into a multifunctional area that is socially, educationally, and ecologically valued.

What strategies were most effective in building support among stakeholders such as students and staff?

A combination of communication and engagement strategies proved essential. These included:

• clear and transparent explanations of the garden’s purpose and functioning,
• educational activities such as workshops, presentations, and guided tours, and
• positioning the rain garden as a living laboratory that connects theory with real-world practice.

Together, these actions helped raise environmental awareness and fostered a more positive perception of nature-based solutions across different stakeholder groups.

The university now regularly hosts visits to the rain garden. What kind of feedback do you receive?

Feedback from visitors, both from within the university and from external guests, is overwhelmingly positive. People frequently highlight the high aesthetic value of the installation, its scientific and demonstrational relevance, and its contribution to the image of the campus as a sustainable and forward-thinking environment.

This feedback has reinforced interest in developing additional nature-based solutions and integrating them more broadly into both university and city infrastructure.

NICE experts at Gdnask University of Technology

Is this approach transferable to other water-related nature-based solutions?

Yes, very much so. The NICE rain garden model is designed to be transferable and has even been submitted as a patent. The patented solution includes a surface runoff conveyance system, a sedimentation basin, a multi-stage filtration system, protection systems with bypasses, and a vegetated retention basin.

Together, these elements form a flexible and replicable model that can be adapted to other locations and applied in a wide range of urban water management contexts.

What does this case demonstrate more broadly about nature-based solutions?

The rain garden at Gdańsk University of Technology shows that social acceptance of nature-based solutions takes time and depends on communication, trust, and visible results. By combining environmental performance with scientific value and aesthetic quality, skepticism can be transformed into long-term support. This experience offers a valuable reference for future nature-based projects in urban environments.