We specialize in evidence-based analysis and strategic consulting of planning bodies and political decision-makers at a local and regional level.
Our focus is on urbanized territories of intermediate density. Our research operates on different scales and with different tools – classical geographic methods, cartography and stakeholder analysis are complemented by net-based archives, storytelling and social media experiments. The team facilitates, initiates and supports planning processes and equips them with new arguments and tools. We operate on projects in South West Germany, the Benelux and Baltic states. urbanes.land is a research and transfer branch of Biberach University of Applied Sciences.
TRANSFORMING PERIPHERIES MAGAZINE
urbanesland.toposmagazine.com
Looking in from the outside, from the existing and not the expanding – the aim of the “Transforming Peripheries” magazine – a joint effort of urbanes.land and topos – is to concentrate existing knowledge about urbanised territories and connect the realms of academics and practitioners across borders, sectors and regions. For one year, the magazine will act as a platform for exchange and connection. It will share best-practice strategies, reflect on what works, and provide a lever to influence the spatial development agendas of policy makers, urban planners, business leaders, academics and community groups alike. We encourage and welcome all parties to add, dissent or comment on the magazine. Dynamic exchange, instant reflection and a broad spectrum of different angles are some of the best things an online magazine can offer.
go to the magazine (external)
STADT LAND GEMEINSAM
DENKEN
Workshop Series
The Wüstenrot Foundation and urbanes.land invites professionals to the conference series ‘Stadt und Land gemeinsam denken’ about cross-municipal challenges and options for action in Oberschwaben. Mayors from city and rural communities, experts in administration, mobility and spatial development exchange ideas about future questions and concepts and develop ideas for cooperative action in the region in the areas of mobility and land development. As a continuation of the Urban Land conference, the Ulm School of Design again offers space for creative exchange and impulses for the development area between the Danube and Lake Constance.
find more information (german)
TRANSFORMING
PERIPHERIES
CONFERENCE
Conference revisited
The first Transforming Peripheries Conference provided a platform for the exchange between policy makers, urban planners, business leaders, academics and community groups. With impulse lectures and practical examples, they stimulated discussion while local stakeholder assessed the importance of the topic for the region. Regional cooperation and space for experimentation were named important factors for successful sustainable development in urban areas. The conference functioned as a kick-off and networking event for the research and transfer initiative urbanes.land at Biberach University.
Research | Publication
EM:C Urban-Rural Campus
The specific requirements of campus development in “rural areas” are scientifically secured and further developed based on the results of the Zero Emission Campus project. The publication focuses on the integrated methodological approach as well as on a concrete package of measures for Biberach University of Applied Sciences and comparable educational and university institutions in urbanized territories.
Teaching | Urban Design
Along the Line
Along Riß and Rotbach exists a previously fragmented, unattractive network of trails. It is at the same time a relevant link, as much as an inner-city peripheral zone with numerous empty spaces and incomplete transport links. In the course, students build several temporary interventions for a section of the axis, which serve as an impulse for a different reading of the urban space as part of the HBC Mobility Day.
Teaching | Studio
Terraine Vague
With the design in Summer 2020, we are going to the Riga metropolitan region together with raumlabor Berlin. Students from Biberach and Riga uncover potentials and make it tangible at a summer school. The central question are means by which urban development can be stimulated that uses existing qualities as a catalyst for locally anchored, participation-oriented and innovative future projects.
Network | Workshop
Stadt Land gemeinsam denken
Together with the Wüstenrot Foundation, we invite you to think together at the HfG Ulm. Mayors from the city and country, experts from administration, mobility and spatial development exchange ideas about their future questions and concepts and develop ideas for cooperative action in the region in the areas of mobility and land development.
Teaching | Studio
Master Studio Summer 2020
Research | Publication
Transforming Peripheries Magazine
With Topos Magazine, we are launching a one-year online magazine on urbanized territories – with a focus on strategies, levers and projects. Together with the experts from the conference, we will process our results in a multimedia manner and take a look at future projects in science and practice in the region, in Europe and beyond.
Teaching | Urban Design
Stadt-Land Oberschwaben
Exploring patterns of small and medium sized cities in Southwest Germany. Oberschwaben is a growing region – similarly home to unique local tradition and global linkages. We want to understand the spatial and social characteristics and the interdependencies between cities, towns and their rural backbones. We approach the region through cartographic, visual and social layers for analysis and experiment.
Research | Suburban
CROSSBORDER
We identify potential benefits and beneficiaries of co-ordinated development approaches for a series of host cities across Europe. Based on the EUROCITIES network on metropolitan areas, urbanes.land outlines practicable co-operations in land-use across administrative borders. The projects evidence new arguments to facilitate innovative strategies for implementation and process.
Research | Competition
Zero Emission Campus
The city of Biberach hosts around 10.000 students and apprentices daily, highly relying on regional commuting. Driven by field analysis, mapping and qualitative research we develop scenarios for the relationship between the city and its education landscape. We analyse current patterns and propose future developments as possible levers for structural transformation in urban development and mobility patterns.
Research | Publication
Atlas Oberschwaben
Exploring patterns of small and medium sized cities in Southwest Germany. Oberschwaben is a growing region – similarly home to unique local tradition and global linkages. We want to understand the spatial and social characteristics and the interdependencies between cities, towns and their rural backbones. We approach the region through cartographic, visual and social layers for analysis and experiment.
Network | Conference
Conference Urbanes Land
The first Urban Land conference enabled exchanges between local decision-makers, project representatives and scientists. With keynote speeches and practical examples, she stimulated discussion about strategies, projects and levers for the balanced development of urbanized territories. The participants also work out future areas of responsibility for research and practice.
Teaching | Founder Garage
StadtKlima
As a professional partner of the Accelerate! SÜD start-up initiative, we are participating in the ‘StadtKlima’ entrepreneurship competition in SS2020. We support projects related to socially sustainable and circular business models for the region. The format is an interdisciplinary event at Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Ulm University and Ulm University of Technology, which is open to all students.
Our Newsletter urbanes.land informs regularly about our activities and new contributions to the transforming peripheries magazine.
photographic series
We are collecting, curating and sharing image data to document regions of intermediate density. These images, on the intersection of research, cartography and photography, create a visual basis that encourages viewers to develop their own opinion about the relationships between urban and rural areas.
Find the ongoing series on Instagram.
Visual
Archive
No longer rural, not yet urban. Urbanized landscapes display manifold expressions of urban phenomena. Join us in forming a wide-ranging visual collection of people and places characterizing peripheral conditions.
Urban-Rural
Atlas
The atlas represents existing knowledge and successful projects from offices, scientists, regions and municipalities on a Europe-wide map. It supports collecting and access to knowledge in the area between research, experiment and land-use planning.