Börries von Detten and I presented our study on paths trough Munich´s Green belt (November 13, Munich) and discussed our findings with experts from the region. One conclusion was that working co-creatively on the green spaces between the municipalities is key to qualifying quality of life in the city region. A resilient network of paths, highlighting the characteristics of the diverse landscapes surrounding Munich, can be a backbone for the appreciation and sustainable use of the green spaces. (Photo: M. Lampert)

The third walk through the “green fingers” of Osnabrück, backbones of the climate-resilient city of the future, took place September 28 and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. Representatives of associations, politicians, farmers and citizens walked the green fingers for five hours and discussed challenges, talents and ideas for the future. “A good mixture. Informative, eye-opening and fun. I got new perspectives on these green structures” commented a member of the group after the walk. There are more transformative walks up to come. Stay up to date here: gruene-finger.de 

The new book “Design Research for Urban Landscapes” is out there now! It addresses in particular PhD Students and advisors telling success stories of integrating design research into PhDs. My chapter “Walk with me! How walking inspires designing” presents my experiences with walking as design practice. Hope you enjoy reading it!

I am thrilled to be part of the book launch Design Research for Urban Landscapes featuring a keynote of Prof. Dr. Ottmar Ette presenting his thoughts on “science on the move”, based on his extensiv research on Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). The book can seen as a translation of Humboldt´s´s findings into contemporary design research.

Design Research for Urban Landscapes – was würde Humboldt dazu sagen? Book Launch with Studio Urbane Landschaften as part of “Humboldt Festwoche” at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. August 27, 16:00-18:30.

Book in Motion: Performance with Studio Urbane Landschaften, feldfünf, Metropolenhaus Berlin. August 27, 19:00-22:00.

A vital part of the research project “Produktiv. Nachhaltig. Lebendig. Grüne Finger für eine klimaresiliente Stadt” are walks with different groups of people through Osnabrücks so called “Green Fingers”. On May 18 members of the “Bürgerbeirat” walked the green finger Sandbachtal and discussed perceptions, identified relevant questions and found ideas for the future of one of these important green structures. The project that is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) can be seen as transformative science: The goal is not only to do research on transformation processes but to actively intervene in these processes by involving change agents in the process of research. (Photo: Hubertus von Dressler)

In my talk “Interventionen. Produktive Störung und Kommunikationsanlass” at RWTH Aachen (May 13)  I presented my thoughts on walking as means to creatively disturb everyday practices. RWTH is working together with the City of Aachen on a walkability-project and focussing on urban interventions to tackle the associated transformation of public space. Referring to my own research on Walking as Design Research and practical experiences, e.g. with the ongoing project “Paths create Landscapes” in Munich´s Greenbelt, I came up with the recommendation to intervene in the public realm by diverting and instructing walking people and thus point to new ways of appropriating the city as walkscape. (Drawing: Börries v. Detten)

In my talk „Das Land als Sphäre der Verortung einer multilokalen Gesellschaft?“ during the conference “Gutes Leben auf dem Land” (July 5, 2018) I presented my thoughts on new interdependencies between urban and rural spaces initiated through new forms of being “en route”. I understand multilocality as a result of structural necessity, action capacity and living strategy (Dick et al 2014) and follow Nicolas Bourriauds definition of mobile people as radicant. “To be radicant means setting one´s roots in motion, staging them in heterogeneous contexts and formats, denying them the power to completely define one´s identity, translating ideas, transcoding images, transplanting behaviors, exchanging rather than imposing”(Bourriaud 2009). Transferring this to the question of rural-urban relation I say: Complex patterns of movement between urban and rural places should be understood and designed as a play of affiliation and detachment.

Learn more about the walking workshops, Henrik and Börries did in Munich´s greenbelt!