Urban Transformations: Sustainable urban development towards resource efficiency, quality of life and resilience
The IP Urban Transformations aims at developing different options for sustainable urban development in order to achieve a reasonable equilibration of resource efficiency, quality of life, and resilience in cities. This approach takes into account that cities are following different development paths in terms of urban growth and urban shrinkage, both taking place on different levels, at different pace and directness.
Whereas urban growth is connected to population growth it is today the prevailing urban trend in developing countries, and often directed to the occurrence of large agglomerations, urban shrinkage can be mainly observed in developed countries within Europe or in Japan in terms of loss of population. Within the IP Urban Transformations, both development paths are analysed by considering global dynamics such as demographic change, land use change, and climate change. These dynamics will be reflected at local scales by empirically based case studies. This multi-scale approach includes the governance perspective with regards to the development of different possible options as a key to translate scientific results into urban practice.
We critically reflect the today established urban system as well as related scientific approaches. In consequence, we go beyond addressing urban dynamics in a linear way within a status quo setting. Urban transformations are the response to the interdependence of urban drivers and sub-systems, creating new spaces and forms of urban development.
We deal with uncertainty and consider unexpected events as challenges and chances for new and experimental ways of problem solution. This combines physical and technical components of the urban fabric on the one hand and human activities including values and common standards on the other. It pursues sustainable development goals in a real world experience. We will as much as possible animate our conceptual approach by exchange and collaboration between researchers of different disciplines and practitioners in order to reach societal impacts.
Strategical decisions and further questions concerning the development of the IP are discussed in the Steering Group. Members of the group are the speakers of the working packages as well as other IP-colleagues. This interdiscplinary group meets once a month. Scientific work is done inside the following work packages.
Work Packages
The IP is structured into four work packages (WP).
To learn more about the work packages click either on the WP in the graphic above or use the respective link below.