News
Solidarity with a democratic and independent Ukraine!
Russia is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine in violation of international law - this is also an attack on democracy and freedom in Europe. We condemn Russia's imperialist aims to destroy the history, culture and language of Ukraine. Our solidarity is with the people of Ukraine who are defending their homeland.
The Chair of Urban Planning supports Ukraine with the following projects, among others:
- Scholarships for refugee scientists from the planning department (DAAD, VHW, VW Foundation)
- Scholarships for students in Ukraine (DAAD)
- Digital courses for planning degree programs in Ukraine (DAAD network panforukraine.de)
- Study projects on resilience and reconstruction in Ukraine (Meetup project commonspaces Drohobych, Dodumo seminar)
DAAD network panforukraine.de: panforukraine.de
Meetup project commonspaces Drohobych: instagram.com/drohobych.common.spaces
IBA Ukraine: iba-ukraine .org/iba.pdf
GIZ project: "Strengthen Urban Resilience in Ukraine" (SUR)
ReTra Summer School 2025: exchange and new impulses
At the end of August, the doctoral students of the ReTra - Resilient Transformation Spaces research college met for the second summer school. Together with representatives from science, administration and practice, the focus was on discussing the current state of research and new perspectives.
Expert input came from Robert Freisberg (Ministry of the Interior and Sport RLP), who highlighted the importance of resilience in regional planning, and from Dr. Helen Mulligan (Cambridge Architectural Research Limited), who shared international experiences from the UK and Japan. Helen Mulligan (Cambridge Architectural Research Limited), who contributed international experience from the UK and Japan.
The event was rounded off by an excursion to the "Dürkheimer und Erpolzheimer Bruch" flood protection project with the Isenach-Eckbach water association. Two days full of stimulating discussions and practical insights into resilient transformation areas.
International exchange on resilient reconstruction
At the end of August 2025, Prof. Dr. Liubov Apostolova-Sossa from the renowned KNUCA (Kyjiv National University of Construction and Architecture) visited Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth at the Chair of Urban Planning at RPTU Kaiserslautern. She is head of the Master's degree program in Urban and Spatial Planning - the only planning degree program in Ukraine - and her teaching and research focuses on urban planning, reconstruction and monument preservation.
In the context of the cooperation agreement between the two universities, the two research groups jointly supervise numerous research and exchange programs via DAAD and GIZ, in particular on the resilient reconstruction of destroyed cities and the further development of digital teaching in view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Germany can learn a lot from the resilience and resistance of Ukrainian cities and universities! The exchange between the degree programs and in research is to be further intensified in the future.
IBA Summer School 2025: Station environments as crystallization points for sustainable urban development
December 11-12, 2025 | TU Berlin, Campus Charlottenburg
How can urban regeneration help to make cities more resilient to crises? This year's conference of the Urban Renewal Working Group - organized by the Chair of Urban Planning, the research group Urban Planning and Development at TU Berlin and other partners - is dedicated to current challenges, methods and planning tools to promote urban resilience.
We are looking for scientific contributions on this topic.
Please send your abstracts by July 15, 2025 to:
jbs-jahrestagung@isr.tu-berlin.de
Participation is free of charge.
Further information on the conference and the publication in the Urban Renewal Yearbook can be found at: www.springer.com/series/14364
We look forward to your contributions and the professional exchange in Berlin!
Further information:
Urban Resilience in Urban Renewal - TU Berlin
Review of the Professor Albert Speer Foundation 2025 Award
We are delighted that the Chair of Urban Planning was once again able to participate in the organization and content of the Professor Albert Speer Foundation's award. Under the motto "Future Housing - Young Ideas for the City and Region", this year's award honored theses that were written at German-speaking universities and deal critically and practically with questions of housing and urban development. Around 90 graduates took part with their outstanding bachelor's, master's and diploma theses in urban planning, architecture, landscape planning and related disciplines.
Many thanks to the Professor Albert Speer Foundation for its trust and dedicated cooperation - especially to Friedbert Greif and Prof. Dr. (em.) Bernd Scholl. Our thanks also go to all the members of the jury, chaired by City Planning Councillor Elisabeth Merk, for their differentiated and appreciative assessment. We would also like to thank
Sabine Roth, Svenja Knuffke and Lennart Bruß for their great support.
We congratulate all the award winners on their impressive work and their innovative perspectives on the housing of the future - you show that it is worth facing the challenges of the future with responsibility and courage!
We are particularly pleased that "Shared Neighbourhood", the Master's thesis supervised by the Chair of Urban Planning by Amelie Oberbeckmann and Franziska Hero is one of this year's award winners. We would like to congratulate both of you and all the other winners on this great achievement!
Call for Papers: Yearbook Urban Renewal 2025
Urban resilience in urban regeneration
From 6 to 12 September 2025, the IBA Summer School of the Munich Metropolitan Region will take place under the theme "Station environments as crystallization points of sustainable urban development". 92 students from ten universities will work in interdisciplinary teams on practical tasks defined by the partner cities of Augsburg, Fürstenfeldbruck and Munich. The aim is to develop innovative and sustainable design concepts for station districts.
The Summer School will conclude on Friday, September 12, 2025, as part of the "Summer in the Chamber" symposium and summer festival at the Bavarian Chamber of Architects. From 16:00, the students will present their results to a specialist audience, local authorities and interested members of the public. Starting at 09:00, the program with lectures, discussions, exhibition, film and music invites you to participate and network.
To register for the Summer School closing event:
https:// iba-m.de/anmeldung-iba-summer-school-2025/
Further information on the "Summer in the Chamber" event can be found here:
www.byak.de/veranstaltungen/akademie-fuer-fort-und weiterbildung/veranstaltung/25813-fachsymposium-sommer-in-der kammer.html?no_cache=1&cHash=d70922b234417f78703772358c3199c0#filter
Obituary for Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Zemke
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Zemke 1962-2025
Obituary
It is with great sympathy that we bid farewell to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Zemke, who passed away on May 31, 2025 after a short, serious illness. Reinhold Zemke was an outstanding planner, teacher, moderator and committed scientist who set new standards in teaching, research and practice. As a long-standing professor at Erfurt University of Applied Sciences and most recently Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, he worked with great passion for socially just, ecological and participatory urban development.
He has significantly shaped and strengthened the profession through the SRL, the Chamber of Architects and other institutions. He was particularly distinguished by his ability to combine planning and planning law in teaching, publications and conferences. He has influenced numerous students, helped shape important urban planning debates and repeatedly built bridges - between disciplines, institutions and people. His publications, particularly on urban planning law, and the Building Law Days he initiated are lasting testimonies to his work.
We will miss Reinhold Zemke. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family and all those who were close to him.
- Nachruf_PLANERIN_3_25.pdfDownload 785 KB
Urban planning colloquium in the summer semester 2025, July 23
Urban security: crime prevention and quality of life in public spaces.
Wednesday, 23.07.2025 , 5.30 p.m., hybrid
Urban security: crime prevention and quality of life in public spaces.
Urban crime prevention
Michael von Focht
Rhineland-Palatinate State Office of Criminal Investigation
Pirmasens model projects
Jacqueline Schröder
Pirmasens Police Inspectorate and Directorate
Panel discussion
Moderation
Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth, at RPTU
Safety is a central need of the urban population. This means that "urban security" must be considered in the context of resilient and integrated urban development.
In the face of increasing attacks and threats, the experienced and perceived insecurity in public spaces is noticeably increasing.
The requirements for urban security are changing: in addition to the security tasks of the police, the focus is increasingly shifting to preventive measures, public order, social work and structural design.
How can cities be designed in such a way that all residents feel safe? What role do the police, public order office, prevention work and urban development play in planning? How can they cooperate better? And how can these approaches be effectively integrated into urban development concepts?
Michael von Focht gives an introduction to urban crime prevention. Jacqueline Schröder presents model projects from Pirmasens. We will then discuss how urban security can be holistically conceived and practically implemented.
Afterwards, we cordially invite you to our garden party with drinks and snacks.
Please register by July 15 at the latest at stadtplanung@ru.rptu.de!
The colloquium will take place hybrid - in presence at RPTUin Kaiserslautern and digitally via Zoom.
For the certificate of participation from the Chamber of Architects, please send an e-mail with your personal data including membership number to: stadtplanung(at)ru.rptu.de
The Urban Planning Colloquium is a series of events organized by the Chair of Urban Planning at RPTU Kaiserslautern (since 2017). A forum for discussing and networking on current urban planning topics.
The event is supported by the SRL, the DASL and the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Architects.
In April 2025, Prof. Dr. Kurth was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the vhw - Bundesverband für Wohnen und Stadtentwicklung e. V. (Federal Association for Housing and Urban Development). The Board of Trustees advises the association strategically and discusses future topics for research and further education. Further information on the Board of Trustees can be found on the Board of Trustees (2025 - 2027)
Urban resilience in times of risk
Crises and disasters present cities with enormous challenges: Ongoing climate change, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, natural disasters and the war in Europe are having a direct impact on urban space, the quality of life and the safety of the population.
In their article on Marlowes, Detlef Kurth, Anna Kuzyshyn and Poliksen Qorri-Dragaj show how spatial planning can respond to such challenges based on current experiences from resilient urban development projects in Ukraine.
Read the article: Urban resilience in times of risk - marlowes
MACH MIT: Integrated sustainable urban development concept Kaiserslautern
Integrated sustainable urban development concept for Kaiserslautern
The next public participation event for the INSEK will take place on 14.05.2025 in the event hall on the garden show grounds. The proposed measures for Kaiserslautern can be discussed at the "Market of Ideas".
Take this opportunity and JOIN IN!
Events - INSEK
Lecture Series VI: Knowledge, Cases and Tools - Competences for Integrated Urban Development and Reconstruction in Ukraine
Lecture Series VI: Competences for Integrated Urban Development and Reconstruction in Ukraine
The RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau is actively participating in the sixth lecture series of Pan for Ukraine. This series presents the "Competence Platform for Integrated Urban Development and Reconstruction in Ukraine" and focuses on practical tools and case studies for the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities.
🔹Time: every second Tuesday, 5:00 - 6:30 pm / 6:00 - 7:30 pm
🔹Location: online via Zoom (link on our website)
🔹Participation: free of charge
The RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau contributes its scientific expertise to the development and implementation of the content. Together with BTU Cottbus and TH Lübeck, teaching modules are being designed to impart specialist knowledge on sustainable urban planning and reconstruction.
🔹 Each session is dedicated to a specific course, developed in cooperation with Ukrainian and German partners.
🔹 The lectures will be recorded and made available on the PanforUkraine learning platform.
🔹 A certificate of participation will be issued upon attendance of at least four sessions and submission of a reflection.
This lecture series is part of the project "Reconstruction Modules Ukraine", funded by the DAAD program "Ukraine Digital".
Further information: Lecture Series VI: Knowledge, Cases and Tools - Competences for Integrated Urban Development and Reconstruction in Ukraine - Pan for Ukraine
Resilient spatial structures
Ad Hoc Working Group "Resilient Spatial Structures - Precautions against the Effects of Sabotage and a Possible Armed Conflict in Germany"
Chair: János Brenner
Deputy Chair: Detlef Kurth
ARL Office: Andreas Klee
The security situation in which Germany and other European countries find themselves must be described as extremely tense. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for a "change of mentality" among Germans when it comes to security issues. This means that if we want to be well-positioned as a society in terms of defense, we must also ensure resilient spatial structures in terms of planning and take greater account of national defense issues by making provisions for infrastructure and civil protection in particular.
Since the end of the Cold War, we in Germany have not been used to putting these issues on the political and planning agenda. Nevertheless, we need to think about what contribution spatial planning can make to increasing the resilience (including redundancy) of spatial structures, especially with regard to taking precautions against the effects of sabotage and a possible armed conflict. What instruments can be used to implement this? Where can synergies be exploited with precautions against other current and potential crises (climate change, political fanaticism, further pandemics)?
These questions will be addressed by a newly established ARL ad hoc working group. Prof. Dr. János Brenner (Technische Universität Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth (RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau) have taken over the leadership. Prof. Dr. Axel Priebs will take part on behalf of the Academy Presidium, while Prof. Dr. Andreas Klee will manage the committee. Other members of the ad hoc working group come from universities, non-university research institutes, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and the Federal Office of Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Bundeswehr Services, among others.
The members of the ad hoc working group plan to outline the contours of resilient spatial structures. The initial aim is to work towards a uniform understanding of resilience in terms of spatial planning and to define interfaces with urban planning. A modern spatial planning resilience strategy is to be developed, particularly in view of the current crisis situations, especially in geopolitical terms.
A major challenge is seen in the fact that the awareness of this topic, which has just begun, must be further increased and the "barriers to thinking" that have been built up must be removed. In addition, various confidentiality requirements, particularly on the part of the Bundeswehr, must be observed and a productive way of dealing with the tension between publicity and confidentiality must be found. How can information and location data of critical/military infrastructure be used despite the need for sensitivity and where is the limit of public negotiation? Is it perhaps even necessary to introduce a "second planning level" with limited public access?
From a thematic perspective, the following aspects should be addressed:
- Examination of the legal bases at federal and state level to determine whether and, if so, to what extent the requirements for a sharpened understanding of resilience are or can be taken into account in the spatial planning or state planning laws of the federal states.
- Examination of selected spatial planning plans at state and regional level also from this perspective.
- The task of spatial planning is not least to develop spatial functions, land uses and infrastructures in a resilient manner in order to avoid, as far as possible, damage to the power grid caused by military or terrorist attacks, for example, or to limit their negative effects. One of the issues to be addressed is therefore the protection of critical infrastructures, which is also supported by spatial planning.
- Redundancy also contributes to resilience: Specifically, this means, for example, that rail lines that are currently underutilized but could potentially take over the function of failed lines in the network should not be shut down prematurely. Power grids must also be designed with greater redundancy, which may also require additional space.
- Conflicts in urban areas are likely to increase, often as part of asymmetric warfare. From a realistic perspective, the protection of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in potentially conflict-prone areas must also be given greater attention.
- In addition, more attention should be paid to the infrastructural links to Eastern Europe and the vulnerability of the data infrastructure.
It is planned to present a "Position paper from the ARL" on this in the near future.
Updated guidelines for academic work at the Chair of Urban Planning
The updated version of the guidelines for academic work at the Chair of Urban Planning for Bachelor's and Master's theses as well as term papers and seminar papers is now available.
The guideline is intended for internal student use and provides general information as well as layout and citation guidelines for academic papers at the Chair of Urban Planning.
IBA Summer School 2025 - Munich Metropolitan Region
Under the topic "Station environments as crystallization points of sustainable urban development", students will have the opportunity to deal intensively with the topic "Spaces of mobility".
From 6 to 13 September 2025, the first IBA Summer School will take place in the Munich metropolitan region as part of the IBA Munich.
🔹 Target group: Students from the 4th semester
🔹 ECTS points: 3
🔹 Procedure: Interdisciplinary preparation phase with online meetings + attendance week
🔹 Costs: Accommodation & meals are provided
🔹 Application deadline: April 11, 2025
Take the opportunity to expand your professional and conceptual skills, work creatively and make valuable contacts.
Further details:
- IBA Summer School 2025: Module descriptionDownload 226 KB
Research and knowledge transfer for urban resilience in Ukraine
The reconstruction of Ukraine poses enormous challenges for cities and municipalities. Urban resilience is a key issue in creating liveable and resilient urban structures for the future. It is not just about the physical reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure - rather, sustainable, adaptable and future-proof urban structures must be created that can cope with crises such as military conflicts, climate change and socio-economic upheaval. We at the Chair of Urban Planning at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) are working intensively on the development of resilience strategies for the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities.
As part of the project "Strengthening urban resilience in the areas of supply infrastructure and housing in Ukraine (SUR)", which is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, we are developing scientific foundations for resilient neighborhood development. Our focus is on:
- Methods for assessing urban resilience
- Integration of resilience into urban development strategies
- Reconstruction approaches for sustainable and safe neighborhoods
- Participation of local actors and knowledge transfer
Together with our partners, we develop planning tools that support cities and municipalities in adapting their neighborhoods to new challenges and managing reconstruction in a targeted manner.
In specialist workshops, we discuss resilient urban development with urban planners, architects, scientists and representatives of Ukrainian cities. The focus will be on data-based analyses, climate adaptation and critical infrastructure.
The resilience index developed by HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) will in future provide a scientifically sound basis for prioritizing reconstruction measures in Ukrainian cities.
At the 2nd German-Ukrainian expert workshop on 14 February 2025 in Berlin, more than 30 experts from science, urban planning and administration came together to discuss resilient districts.
- Mindaugas Pakalnis, former chief architect of Vilnius, presented strategies for reconstruction after the Russian occupation.
- Experts at RPTU Kaiserslautern and HCU Hamburg presented criteria for resilient neighbourhood development in order to prioritize reconstruction measures.
- INSAR Berlin and Ro3kvit Kyiv presented case studies for Ukrainian cities that provide approaches for sustainable and resilient urban structures.
The city administrations of Poltava and Nizhyn expressed their gratitude for the cooperation and plan to use the concept of resilient neighborhoods as a basis for their urban development projects.
We look forward to further professional cooperation and exchange with our partners for sustainable and resilient urban development in Ukraine.
Review of the Academic Anniversary 2025
On February 7, 2025, the Chair of Urban Planning hosted the academic annual celebration of the Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning.
We would like to thank Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Karina Pallagst for her introductory words as well as Dipl.-Ing. Friedbert Greif, Managing Director of AS+P, and Dr. Suzanne Mösel, Mayor of Neckarsulm - both former graduates - for their insights into current developments in urban and spatial planning.
Special highlights were the presentations of outstanding theses, the honoring of the student council members and the ceremonial awarding of certificates. The festive finale was provided by Michael Halberstadt and band with great live music.
Many thanks to everyone involved and to the Professor Albert Speer Foundation for their support!
We wish all graduates every success in their future endeavors!
Photos: RPTU, Hossein Ameri Far
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Ali Abbas receives award for outstanding academic achievements and social commitment (DAAD Prize)
Ali Abbas, our former student assistant, has been studying urban planning at RPTU for two years. The young Syrian has quickly made a name for himself with his professional qualifications and well-founded contributions. The Master's student also mediates between cultures in his free time. He supports Ukrainian and Syrian prospective students and refugees with their applications to German universities free of charge, helps them to get to know German culture better and gives language lessons on a voluntary basis.
Before coming to RPTU, Ali Abbas studied at Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria. His bachelor thesis "Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Al Raqqa City Center" dealt with the reconstruction and reactivation of the city center of Raqqa in Syria. He was able to contribute this knowledge to the platform "PAN for Ukraine" (planning and architecture network for Ukraine) - a DAAD project to support reconstruction in Ukraine.
On Friday, December 13, he received the DAAD Prize 2024, awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), for this combination of outstanding academic achievements and special social commitment.
The team at the Chair of Urban Planning would like to congratulate Ali on this well-deserved award!
BBSR publication - Integrated urban development concepts for inner cities and centers
Integrated strategic urban (sub-)development planning is an informal, target- and implementation-oriented strategic management tool. Growing forecasting uncertainty and ever faster changes require more and more adaptable concepts and planning processes. This study looked at integrated urban development concepts for inner city development and their design in times of pandemic.
The aim of the study was, on the one hand, to identify areas of city center development with an increased need for action, modification and control at municipal level in the difficult pandemic stress situation. On the other hand, the focus was on whether and, if so, what need for correction or updating results from the pandemic crisis for the integrated urban development concepts for the development of city centers, town centers and district centers.
To this end, interviews were held with experts and eight good examples of integrated action concepts for center development in times of crisis were researched and prepared. In addition to further practice-oriented recommendations for action, the examples provide suggestions for the design of these informal instruments. The study serves to transfer knowledge into municipal practice.
Download PDF: BBSR - Publications - Integrated urban development concepts for inner cities and centers
Scientific support
Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
Department RS 2 "Urban Development"
Mechthild Renner (Project Manager)
mechthild.renner(at)bbr.bund.de
Evi Goderbauer
evi.goderbauer(at)bbr.bund.de
Support at the Federal Ministry
Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building
Division S II 4 "Vibrant Centers, National Urban Development Projects"
Anke Michaelis-Winter
Contractor
complan Kommunalberatung GmbH, Potsdam
Caroline Uhlig, Christiane Rhede-Bauers, Armin Busch, Tamara Mitransky
RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau
Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth, Dr. Martina Stepper
Doctoral colloquium
The doctoral colloquium with our doctoral students offered a valuable opportunity to present their research projects and develop them further in an exchange of ideas. The focus was on topics such as resilience in urban development, sustainable urban planning and digital transformation.
The thematic input from Dr. Gérard Hutter from the IOER on the topic of case study design was particularly exciting and opened up new perspectives for the participants' own research projects.
This time, the format of the presentations was adapted to create more space for discussion. Each doctoral candidate presented specific questions about their research, which were then discussed in the group - from questions about methodology and case study selection to interim conclusions. This interactive exchange made the colloquium particularly lively.
Many thanks to all participants for the productive exchange and exciting discussions!
Strengthening urban resilience in eastern Ukraine
DE: Cities in eastern Ukraine are under constant threat and need immediate reconstruction measures. At the same time, long-term strategies for resilient and sustainable urban development are needed. How can both approaches be combined and how can cities in Ukraine become more resilient?
On 20.09.24, a successful online workshop on "Knowledge exchange for resilient neighborhoods in Ukraine" took place online. More than 30 international experts from city administrations, politics, universities, NGOs and city associations discussed crucial topics of urban resilience in times of war in the framework of the GIZ project "Strengthening urban resilience in the areas of utility infrastructure and housing in Ukraine".
The experts discussed interim results of their research and how elements of urban resilience can be embedded in integrated urban development concepts (IUDC). IUDCs must become more action- and measure-oriented in times of crisis, and researchers from RPTU Kaiserslautern and HCU Hamburg presented criteria for vulnerability and resilience that should become part of urban analysis and planning strategies.
The workshop was part of a network between urban planners, architects and other disciplines to support the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities. The Head of the Urban Development Department of the Association of German Cities, Prof. Hilmar von Lojewski, emphasized his association's support for city partnerships and how important it is to transfer the principles of the EU Leipzig Charter to Ukraine. Tetiana Melnyk from the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) pointed out the special needs of cities under threat, in particular the protection of civil society and energy infrastructure.
Prof. Dr. Liubov Apostolova-Sossa from Kyiv University (KNUBA) showed the most important principles of urban resilience and how these could be implemented in the process of urban renewal. Former urban planners of German cities shared their experiences with reconstruction after the reunification of Germany. Kees Christiaanse, founder of KCAP and initiator of the IBA Ukraine initiative, proposed key principles for the development of resilient neighborhoods.
The exchange will continue in further expert workshops and the criteria will be implemented in case studies.
EN: Cities in Eastern Ukraine are under an ongoing threat, and need immediate recovery. At the same time, long-lasting strategies of a resilient and sustainable urban development are needed. How we can combine both approaches, and how cities in Ukraine can become more resilent?
On 20.9.24 a successful expert workshop about "Knowledge transfer for resilient neighborhoods in Ukraine" took place online. More than 30 international experts from city administrations, politics, universities, NGO and city associations discussed crucial topics of urban resilience in times of war - in context of the GIZ-project "Strengthen Urban Resilience in the areas supply infrastructure and housing in Ukraine"
The experts discussed intermediate results of their research, how to integrate elements of urban resilience in integrated urban development concepts (IUDC). IUDC in times of crisis need to become more oriented on actions and measures. Researchers from RPTU Kaiserslautern and HCU Hamburg presented criteria of vulnerability and resilience, which should become part of urban analysis and planning strategies.
The workshop was part of a network between urban planners, architects and other disciplines to support the recovery of Ukrainian cities. The head of the urban development department of German City Association (Deutscher Staedtetag), Prof. Hilmar von Lojewski, pointed out the support from his association for twin city collaborations, and how important it is to transfer the principles of EU Leipzig Charta to Ukraine. Tetiana Melnyk from Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) pointed out the special needs of the cities under threat, especially to protect the civil society and the energetic infrastructure.
Prof. Dr. Liubov Apostolova-Sossa from Kyjiv University (KNUBA) showed the main principles of urban resilience and how they could be implemented in the urban regeneration process. Former chief architects from German cities presented their experiences with recovery after reunification of Germany. Kees Christiaanse, founder of KCAP and initiator of IBA Ukraine initiative, suggested main principles of a resilient neighborhood development.
The exchange will go on in upcoming expert workshops, also the criteria will be implemented in case studies.
Image source: Hilmar von Lojewski
Workshop: Integrated Urban Development Planning and Design - Development of the Chernivtsi railroad station area
Although Chernivtsi has been largely spared direct bombing during the ongoing war, the city faces major urban planning challenges due to the high number of refugees and other war-related impacts. In a workshop, participants will focus in particular on the planning of the area around the city's train station, where several critical urban development tasks converge.
The workshop will take place from 11.11. to 15.11.2024 in Mannheim and will be held in English. Participants will work in mixed teams to develop urban design strategies and concepts for the Chernivtsi station area.
The workshop is aimed at Master's students of architecture and urban planning from the five partner universities: Chernivtsi National University, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Lviv Polytechnic National University, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and RPTU Kaiserslautern. It takes place within the framework of the city partnership between Chernivtsi and Mannheim, in cooperation with the partner universities and with the support of GIZ Germany and the GIZ office in Chernivtsi. Accommodation and catering costs will be covered for the participants. Participation in the workshop will be recognized by the chair as a module "Competitions in Spatial and Environmental Planning".
Corinna Schittenhelm receives prize for Best Abstract at Young Researchers Symposium
On 01.08.2024, 41 doctoral students from RPTU, the Fraunhofer Institutes ITWM and IESE, DFKI, IVW and Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences presented their research at the Fraunhofer Center in the form of presentations and poster pitches. The contributions covered a wide range of topics, from the development of fluorescence sensors for the identification of zinc in living cells to the early detection of Parkinson's disease. Our colleague Corinna Schittenhelm impressed the reviewers with her abstract on the topic of "Multifunctionality in urban districts". In it, she presented her research on the potential of multifunctional use of previously monofunctional social infrastructures in urban neighborhoods. Corinna Schittenhelm succeeded in making her theoretically sound research understandable for people from other departments and research fields. She thus fulfilled the requirements of the competition to a particularly high degree and was awarded the prize for the best abstract.
The team at the Chair of Urban Planning would like to congratulate Corinna on this great achievement.
Workshop as part of the IWAES research project
Invitation to the workshop "Integrative consideration of sustainable heat management in urban districts" of the joint project IWAES on October 17, 2024 in Stuttgart.
The workshop will present concepts for municipal energy and heat planning, innovative technical approaches and experiences from municipal pilot applications. In this context, results from the IWAES joint project will also be presented. The event is therefore aimed at representatives of local authorities. energy supply companies, planning offices and research institutions. The aim is to show that the base load-capable thermal energy source of wastewater thermal energy can be successfully used in both decentralized and centralized supply concepts.
Lecture Reconstruction in Ukraine
pan for ukraine - planning an architecture network for Ukraine invites you to the fourth lecture series on integrated urban development strategies.
The series is part of the DAAD research project "Ukraine digital".
On Tuesday, July 16, in the last lecture of the 4th event series, DAAD scholarship holders from planning universities in Ukraine will present their results from the seminars "Drohobych level up!" and "Urban Resilience of Large Housing Estates (1980s)".
Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/62898817970?pwd=RTgrT0tTcWcrbUp1bjVzYTQ3QlNiQT09
The lecture series takes place digitally every second Tuesday from 17:00-18:30 (CET), 18:00-19:30 (OEZ).
The lecture will be recorded and then made available on the panforukraine learning platform: https://futurelearnlab.de/hub/enrol/index.php?id=317 (registration required).
Award of the Professor Albert Speer Foundation
The Professor Albert Speer Foundation's "Future Housing - Young Ideas for the City and Region" award is a continuation of the Professor Albert Speer Foundation's funding tradition. The aim is to award prizes for final theses that deal with future housing issues. The future of housing is a topic of great social importance, also for social peace. In a crisis-ridden world that is changing rapidly, experts are called upon to develop innovative concepts and solutions. Approaches can be found at all scales - from landscaped living environments to new urban districts and city regions.
Further information can be found in the competition documents.
Lecture Reconstruction in Ukraine
pan ukraine - planning an architecture network for Ukraine invites you to the fourth lecture series on integrated urban development strategies.
The series is part of the DAAD research project "Ukraine digital".
The lecture series will take place on Tuesday, June 4, with contributions by Sofiia Brem (Big City Lab, Kiev) and Stefan Gab (Rupprecht Consult GmbH, Cologne).
Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/62898817970?pwd=RTgrT0tTcWcrbUp1bjVzYTQ3QlNiQT09
The lecture series will take place digitally every second Tuesday from 17:00-18:30 (CET), 18:00-19:30 (OEZ).
The lecture will be recorded and then made available on the panforukraine learning platform: https://futurelearnlab.de/hub/enrol/index.php?id=317 (registration required).
City Talks Digital
On 06.06.2024, the "Stadtgespräch digital" will take place on the topic of "Quality of stay and accessibility of city centers - a contradiction" will take place. It will be introduced by an input from Prof. Cordula Neiberger, RWTH Aachen.
The digital city talk can be accessed via the following link:
https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/67376938010?pwd=Ym9wMWZuT2IvamJwWWQvMmdRbzFwZz09
Stadtgespräch digital is a monthly exchange format organized by Wissensnetzwerk Stadt und Handel e.V. and urbanicom - Deutscher Verein für Stadtentwicklung und Handel e.V.
Every first Thursday of the month, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, an online discussion round takes place on various topics from the city and retail sector. It starts with a guest lecture on the respective topic and is followed by a moderated discussion round. (more information at: https://www.wissensnetzwerkstadthandel.de/wsh-stadtgespr%C3%A4ch-digital)
Lecture Reconstruction in Ukraine
pan ukraine - planning an architecture network for Ukraine invites you to the fourth lecture series on integrated urban development strategies.
The series is part of the DAAD research project "Ukraine digital".
On Tuesday, May 21, the lecture series will take place with a presentation on "Resilient Settlements - Creating Safe and Livable Neighborhoods" by Mindaugas Pakalnis, Head of the Urban Development Department of the Construction Development Agency of the Republic of Lithuania.
Link: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/62898817970?pwd=RTgrT0tTcWcrbUp1bjVzYTQ3QlNiQT09
The lecture series takes place digitally every second Tuesday from 17:00-18:30 (CET), 18:00-19:30 (OEZ).
The lecture will be recorded and then made available on the panforukraine learning platform: https://futurelearnlab.de/hub/enrol/index.php?id=317 (registration required).
Urban Planning Colloquium SoSe24
Wednesday, 12.06.2024 , 6 p.m., digital
Municipal heat planning: New challenges for integrated urban development
Introduction
Dipl.-Ing. Leonie Herrmann, at RPTU
Input and panel discussion
Prof. Thomas Giel, Sustainable Building Energy Systems, Mainz University of Applied Sciences
Kerstin Weinbach, Head of Urban Planning and Urban Development Department, City of Landau
Energy Agency RLP (requested)
Moderation
Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth, at RPTU
On 16.08.2023, the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft law for heat planning and the decarbonization of heating networks. The law is intended to oblige local authorities to ensure comprehensive heat planning in Germany through heat plans. The aim of the law is to generate half of grid-based heat in a climate-neutral way by 2030. Municipal heat planning poses challenges for municipalities, planners and owners, and at the urban planning colloquium we would like to discuss with Prof. Thomas Giel and Kerstin Weinbach how urban planning can have a controlling effect on heat planning in cities. For example, we will discuss decentralized approaches at district level or the challenges of awarding municipal heat control plans.
The colloquium will take place digitally via Zoom.
https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/66567123071?pwd=aDlDa3AwNFptaEUzVnQxNnJzbUh2dz09
(Meeting ID: 665 6712 3071, identification code: E!p8y@Dc)
The event is recognized as further training by the RLP Chamber of Architects.
City Talks Digital
On 02.05.2024 the "Stadtgespräch digital" will take place on the topic "Rethinking city centers with foresight methods!". It will be introduced by an input from Ricarda Pätzold (difu).
The digital city talk can be accessed via the following link:
https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/67376938010?pwd=Ym9wMWZuT2IvamJwWWQvMmdRbzFwZz09
Stadtgespräch digital is a monthly exchange format organized by Wissensnetzwerk Stadt und Handel e.V. and urbanicom - Deutscher Verein für Stadtentwicklung und Handel e.V.
Every first Thursday of the month, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, an online discussion round takes place on various topics from the city and retail sector. It starts with a guest lecture on the respective topic and is followed by a moderated discussion round. (more information at: https://www.wissensnetzwerkstadthandel.de/wsh-stadtgespr%C3%A4ch-digital)
Lecture Reconstruction in Ukraine
pan ukraine - planning an architecture network for Ukraine invites you to the fourth lecture series on the topic of integrated urban development strategies.
The series is part of the DAAD research project "Ukraine digital".
Every second Tuesday from 17.00 to 18.30 (CET), 18.00 to 19.30 (OEZ) digital
The link for the online session can be found at www.panforukraine.de
All lectures are recorded and then made available on https://futurelearnlab.de/hub/enrol/index.php?id=317.
Launch event for the Kaiserslautern INSEK
An integrated sustainable urban development concept (INSEK) is currently being developed for the city of Kaiserslautern. At the participation event on March 20, 2024 , the planning team will present the initial results of the INSEK and provide information about the next steps in the process and opportunities for citizens to participate. Participants at the kick-off event will also have the opportunity to express their opinions on specific urban development topics.
In addition, local experts will give short presentations on relevant planning topics. The speakers will be Prof. Dr. Spellerberg (at RPTU), Prof. Dr. Kurth (at RPTU) and Dr. Weiler (WFK).
Furthermore, an online participation will take place from March 20 to April 14, 2024 for all interested parties.
Further information on the INSEK can be found at www.kaiserslautern.de/insek
City Talks Digital
On 07.03.2024, the "Stadtgespräch digital" will take place on the topic of "Vital first floors - the ideal balance between multifunctionality
and economic efficiency" and will be introduced by an input from Dr. Joseph Frechen from bulwiengesa AG.
The digital Stadtgespräch can be accessed via the following link:
https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/67376938010?pwd=Ym9wMWZuT2IvamJwWWQvMmdRbzFwZz09
Stadtgespräch digital is a monthly exchange format organized by Wissensnetzwerk Stadt und Handel e.V. and urbanicom - Deutscher Verein für Stadtentwicklung und Handel e.V.
Every first Thursday of the month, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, an online discussion round takes place on various topics from the city and retail sector. It starts with a guest lecture on the respective topic and is followed by a moderated discussion round. (more information at: https://www.wissensnetzwerkstadthandel.de/wsh-stadtgespr%C3%A4ch-digital)
Resilient inner cities: the consequences of crises like coronavirus for integrated development concepts
Wednesday, 17.01.2024 , 6 p.m., digital
Future topics of the city center
Michael Reink, German Retail Association, Knowledge Network City and Retail e.V.
Results from the ExWoSt project ISEK and Corona
Dr. Martina Stepper, at RPTU, Wissensnetzwerk Stadt und Handel e.V.
Panel:
Mario Abel, Yellow Z
Stefan Heinig, urban development planner
Moderation:
Prof. Dr. Detlef Kurth, at RPTU
City centers are undergoing constant change. Challenges such as online retail, changes in mobility, climate change and demographic change are changing shopping behavior and the demands placed on public spaces. The coronavirus pandemic has hit city centers very hard at times, with lockdowns and restrictions on movement. The question of which existing development trends have been reinforced by corona and which "new" trends have emerged is the subject of controversial debate. The colloquium will present and discuss the results of research projects and funding programs on the consequences of corona for inner cities. We will discuss transformation requirements for a resilient city center with speakers from retail and planning practice.
The colloquium will take place digitally via Zoom.
https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/63007976024?pwd=aDhNMjFLRXFnUVhYcFVZR1NYd2Zadz09
Seminar "Cities of the Future" on December 13 at the University of Bonn
On Wednesday, December 13, Prof. Kurth will hold a seminar on "Cities of the Future" as part of the series "DenkReise WS 23/24: Where do we want to live?" at the University of Bonn.
The lecture starts at 14:00 and is aimed at students, academics and anyone interested.
Panel discussion Conclusions for planning study programs in Ukraine
pan ukraine - planning an architecture network for Ukraine invites you to the third lecture series on the topic of integrated urban development strategies.
The series is part of the DAAD research project "Ukraine digital".
Building on the diverse topics of our previous lecture series, the panel discussion on December 18 from 17:00 - 18:30 aims to draw joint conclusions for the planning study programs in Ukraine.
How can topics such as reconstruction, resilience, integrated urban development be integrated or strengthened in Ukrainian degree programs? What will be important topics and study modules specifically for post-war reconstruction? Which format will be most fruitful? And what kind of cooperation is needed for 2024? We look forward to discussing these and other questions with you and our panelists:
Link: https://b-tu.webex.com/b-tu-en/j.php?MTID=mc3924fb419e1fe4de2cdcbafbb618d7e
The lecture series takes place digitally every second Tuesday from 17:00-18:30 (CET), 18:00-19:30 (OEZ).
Rheinpfalz summer interview with Prof. Kurth
In a summer interview with Rheinpfalz, Prof. Kurth talks about the challenges and opportunities of urban planning and development in Kaiserslautern. Topics such as the need for more green spaces, the improvement of the microclimate and the upgrading of the city center are highlighted. Prof. Kurth is particularly keen to shape Kaiserslautern as a liveable and future-oriented city that makes greater use of its potential as a university location.
