Creative sprayers transform Hamburg's air measuring station into a work of art!

Creative sprayers transform Hamburg's air measuring station into a work of art!

Creativity is very important in Hamburg! A measuring container owned by the city, which is located in the Schanzenpark and has been monitoring air quality since 1984, has now been given a new, colorful look. This container, one of 15 facilities in the Hamburg air measurement network, is responsible for measuring pollutants such as ozone, fine dust and nitrogen oxides. But instead of just acting as a functional station, it is often the target of sprayers, even though a fence is supposed to protect it from uninvited guests. But now it is becoming a work of art again: The graffiti artist Arik took on the container after the Institute for Hygiene and Environment, the operator of the air measurement network, hired him. A successful decision, as hamburg.de reports.

The innovative approach that Arik follows developed in a workshop with children and young people. The initiative was created in collaboration with the Salut Deluxe e.V. association, which offers free creative workshops. The participants not only learned how to use the spray can, but also designed a thematically appropriate motif for the container. There is a great desire for the creative work of children and young people to last for a long time.

The importance of the air measurement station

The Hamburg air quality index shows how important collaboration between art and environmental protection is. Since 1984, the Hamburg air measurement network has not only collected data on air quality, but also made it possible to make this transparent to the public. On June 26, 2025, the day of the last update, the air quality index was divided into school grades. Values ​​such as “very good” or “good” are important here to guarantee the general well-being of citizens. The air measurement station on the Veddel currently has a 24-hour average value of 2, which corresponds to a good condition. Detailed information about all measuring stations in Hamburg can be found at hamburg.luftmessnetz.de.

At the customs port, where the Veddel air measurement station is located, it not only measures air quality, but is also part of the diversity of urban life. With a location in the immediate vicinity of the kindergarten, it offers an interesting connection between environmental education and practical measurement of air pollutants.
The technical details are considerable: from July 1, 1984, a wide range of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NO) will be recorded - and even fine dust will be monitored. What is particularly interesting is that the station is able to use various measuring devices to provide the most accurate data possible, which is crucial for urban planning and environmental policy.

The challenge of air quality

Air quality is an important issue, especially in urban areas like Hamburg. Due to urban influences and industry, measuring stations like the one on the Veddel are essential. They help monitor air pollution and take action to improve air quality. Great efforts are made to keep the data from the measuring stations up to date.

According to luft.hamburg.de, there is not only an outstanding monitoring structure, but also continuous collaboration between art and environmental awareness - two areas that are of great importance for the health of citizens. This means that every spray can in the Schanzenpark not only becomes a creative act, but also a part of the city's climate protection.