Life in the country is often contrasted with life in the city. The advantages of city life are compared to the advantages of country life. Does that have to be the case in major new developments? Can't country life and city life merge in the Wasserstadt of Limmer? A rural, green, relaxed and at the same time urban lively dense structure with urbanity and lots of greenery between two canals? The new quarter can connect two more levels. The area of the future Wasserstadt Limmer was once the premises of the Hannoversche Gummikamm AG Excel-sior with impressive industrial architecture from the turn of the century. Opposite these densely built and large-scale buildings was and still is the village of Alt Limmer with a rural cluster of diverse houses around the Saint Nikolai Church. The water town of Limmer merges both systems of their creation into new urban-rural neighborhoods in the countryside between Hanover's city center and northern Lei-neauen. The basic structure of the water town of Limmer is inspired by the industrial history, the original village character, nature and the demand for lively togetherness. It merges, combines urbanity and life in the green village. On closer inspection, the town-village coexist-ence is divided into diverse neighborhoods that are laid out in the landscape like a colorful carpet. The neighborhoods combine urban granularity with village-specific qualities. Each neighborhood is made up of different building typologies, which, developed from simple systems, enable lively coexistence. Wasserstadt focuses on people as community beings. It connects people with people, people with places and people with stories that they will experience in Wasserstadt.

Diverse building structures with a colorful mix of apartments are the basis for mixed neighborhoods from which lively communities can develop. In order to enable community on different levels, a strong social network is promoted by staging, promoting and accompanying opportunities for exchange. Open spaces and neighborhoods should help to regenerate nature. Public green spaces are more than just recreational spaces for the residents of the surrounding buildings. They form complex ecosystems that contribute to climate protection, microclimate and biodiversity on site. The new town-village character of the buildings and the open spaces increases people's identifica-tion with the neighborhoods.

Central challenges to architecture as a field of action for climate-resilient cities are simpler and more robust building concepts. The living space in a lively neighbourhood for all age groups and social classes should generate its versatility from the modular system of a simple system. Preference is given to buildings that formulate compact volumes without a basement in favor of efficient floor plan design. Un-derground car parks should be avoided as far as possible in favor of neighborhood car parks. In order to relate the individual different structures to one another on a further level, and also to minimize costs, not all details should be redesigned for all buildings in the Was-serstadt. Recurring details and materials are being developed and evaluated with regard to their ecological, economic and building culture qualities for a design manual, containing criteria for sustainable urban development.