Munich's Ludwigstraße Greening Debate: Architect Almut Grüntuch-Ernst on Urban Climate

Munich's Ludwigstraße, the city's grandest boulevard, is at the center of a heated debate over urban greening, with opposition remaining fierce even after the hot summer of 2026. Berlin-based architect Almut Grüntuch-Ernst discusses whether the classicist street can still be justified in its current form, arguing that as an ecosystem the street is a catastrophe. The interview, published by Süddeutsche Zeitung, addresses the growing consensus that cities must become greener, shadier, cooler and ultimately healthier — a realization few would dispute following the extreme heat of 2026. Yet Munich's most beautiful street, the classicist Ludwigstraße, stands as the opposite of that ideal. The conversation examines whether the city can still afford to maintain the Ludwigstraße as it is, weighing the architectural heritage of the boulevard against the pressing demands of urban climate adaptation. The article frames the greening of Munich's Prachtmeile as a controversial undertaking that provokes strong protest, and positions Grüntuch-Ernst as the expert voice questioning the sustainability of the street's current design.