Apr 22, 2025
International Interdisciplinary Autumn School - Designing for Change: Vegetation, Open Spaces and Social Innovation in Shrinking Cities
BACKGROUND
The focus of this Autumn School is on the shrinking city of Hoyerswerda in Lusatia: the demolition of housing estates is creating new urban open spaces with vegetation that are unfortunately still unused at present. The participants examine their potential for people and nature and incorporate their findings into suggestions for improvement. The Autumn School aims to rethink the open spaces in Hoyerswerda in the context of social, ecological and technological challenges and to propose concepts for future development in co-creative work using design thinking.
ASSIGNMENT
The participants work in small interdisciplinary groups and explore various residential areas in Hoyerswerda-Neustadt. They analyze the lifestyles of the residents, examine the interactions between residential development, demolition and open space structures and design creative, cross-species usage concepts. The project combines theory and practice in the sense of research-based learning, promotes intercultural and interdisciplinary skills and relies on close cooperation with the local population and administration. The results will be presented in the form of a public exhibition, which will be opened at the end of the Autumn School.
CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
- Language: English
- Accommodation and mobility: Accommodation will be provided in Hoyerswerda. All participants will be accommodated in shared flats according to gender. Arrival and departure are at your own expense. Bicycles are available on site.
- Letter of motivation: As places for participation in the Autumn School are limited, it is requested that a one-page letter of motivation with contact details be sent to Andrea Augsten() by May 10, 2025 at the latest. Templates can be found in the OPAL course.
CREDITABLE FOR MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS
- Spatial Development and Natural Resource Management (Module 2.7)
- Ecosystem Services (Module 2.17)
- Landscape Architecture (modules A-LB 685; A-LM 281)
- as well as other relevant courses from the fields of environmental/sustainability sciences, design, landscape architecture, urbanism and planning (AQUA course)
CONTACT PERSONS
Visiting Prof. Dr. Andrea Augsten, (for AQUA)
Jun.-Prof. M. Sc. Nora Huxmann, (for the Landscape Architecture degree program)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Knippschild, (for the degree programs MSc Spatial Development and Natural Resource Management and MSc Ecosystem Services)