In the “Space and Form” module, students in the 2025 summer semester examined the analysis and further development of urban districts in the Ostfildern area. The aim was to use the lecture as a basis for understanding the interplay between buildings, open spaces, and streets, and to develop their own strategies for designing high-quality urban spaces.

There were four different neighborhoods to choose from: the Ruit district, Scharnhauser Park (west and east sides), and the Akademiegärten in Neuhausen. The knowledge gained was then translated into a conceptual design for the further development of the neighborhoods.

Supervision:                                          Prof. Cornelia Bott                          Dipl.-Ing. Michael Schröder       Tutorin Alina Fehlhaber 

Special topic: Design / Nature-oriented recreation planning

In a collaboration between the landscape architecture and landscape planning + nature conservation programs, interdisciplinary groups conducted feasibility studies for a potential swimming lake between Owen and Beuren. The task included not only investigating and evaluating the natural conditions, but also proposing designs for the lake that would integrate it into the landscape and existing local recreation facilities.

Supervision:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Röhl

Days 3 to 5

On days three to five, the focus shifted to selected urban areas in the Ruhr region. In Duisburg, the students explored the newly designed König-Heinrich-Platz, the inner harbor as an example of successful structural change, and the extensive RheinPark. A special highlight was the walk-in landmark Tiger & Turtle.

In Essen, the program included a visit to the Grüne Mitte university park and a guided tour of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both locations impressively demonstrated how landscape architecture, urban development, and industrial culture are intertwined. The last day of the seminar was devoted to completing the work and a joint conclusion.

Supervision:                                      Raum – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger  Typologie – Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Sachse                                      Gestalten – Franziska Korn        Vegetation – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ursula Nothhelfer

Day 1 and 2

This year, the compact seminar took third-semester students to the Ruhr region. The students spent the first two days at Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park, an impressive example of the transformation of industrial facilities into diverse open spaces.

In three areas of work—drawing, plants, and space & typology—they explored the park’s characteristic locations: from blast furnaces and bunkers to water and rail structures to sinter gardens. The park provided an inspiring learning environment in which industrial relics, vegetation, and atmosphere are closely interwoven. This resulted in initial drawing analyses, plant portraits, and spatial studies, which formed the introduction to the week.

Supervision:                                      Raum – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger  Typologie – Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Sachse                                      Gestalten – Franziska Korn        Vegetation – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ursula Nothhelfer

Cultural spaces on the green belt

New cultural spaces are to be created along the edge of the slope between the residential area and the park. For an annual art and culture festival that attracts large numbers of visitors, the city of N. is holding a competition that combines barrier-free paths, space-creating walls, and themed pavilions. 

The project offers an opportunity to redesign the transition between city and landscape: How can the edge of the slope be strengthened as a “green belt,” what spatial qualities does the location need, and how can sustainability, noise protection, and atmospheric design be convincingly combined?

Supervision:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Meier

In this course, students explored a wide range of architectural, urban planning, and open space projects, which they then brought to life in carefully designed models. Through their research, they discovered influential buildings and important planners, while honing their technical skills and design eye through model building. As a result, each project not only resulted in a precise model, but also a deeper understanding of the stories, ideas, and concepts that shape our built environment.

Supervision:                                           Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Meier

The cycle path network between Tübingen and Rottenburg from a landscape architecture perspective

A fast cycle route is to be built between Tübingen and Rottenburg am Neckar. The regional council has been planning the project since 2020, and in 2023, the preferred option 2b was chosen. This route runs from Derendingen along the southern side of the B 28, crosses it, and then follows the former construction road parallel to the B 28. In Kiebingen, the route crosses the Neckar River and connects to the Rottenburg cycle path network.

The project offers an opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the region’s bicycle network: where does it work well, where are there gaps, and what improvements can the new connection bring about? The focus is also on questions of sensible networking, connectivity, and landscape-compatible design. 

Supervision:                                           Prof. Dr.-Ing. Henning Krug           Dipl.-Ing. (TUM) LA Max Hansen     Dr. Kilian van Lier                           David Jones

This year, the 8th semester excursion took students to Copenhagen. 

The focus was on experiencing innovative urban and open space planning in a Scandinavian context – mainly by bicycle or on foot.

The students began by exploring the waterfront and shore areas around Copenhagen Harbor. They then focused on urban districts such as Nørrebro, Østerbro, and the Nordhavnen development area, where topics such as climate adaptation, mobility, and mixed use can be experienced firsthand. On the island of Amager and in Ørestad, projects such as Amager Bakke or “The Mountain” provide insights into experimental architecture and new urban concepts. A day trip took them to the greater Copenhagen area, with the Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk and the classic modern buildings by Arne Jacobsen in Klampenborg. The trip concluded with a half-day tour of central urban areas such as Israels Plads and the Strøget pedestrian zone.

The excursion provided a compact overview of current strategies for urban transformation – between landscape, architecture, and mobility.

Supervision:

Prof. Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Ludwig SchegkProf. Ingrid Schegk

During the first semester, students create an elevation model based on a randomly assigned scale and elevation templates.

The elevation layer plan forms the basis for this and must be adapted and reworked to include elements such as buildings, terraces, and trees.

The materials can be chosen freely (cardboard, Bristol board, Kapa board, etc.), and the color scheme and design should be creative, but consistent and coherent.

At the end of the semester, the individual elevation models are then turned into a kind of puzzle. Students must find the “neighbors” adjacent to their elevation layers, which together form a picture. Here, the imprint of an elephant has been created.

Supervision:

Prof. Dr. Dirk Stendel

The interdisciplinary master’s project focused on an in-depth examination of Stuttgart’s City Hall Quarter. With its strategy for a livable city center, the city of Stuttgart aims to redesign the public space within the city ring to make it more attractive, improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and reduce car traffic. Building on this, the aim was to analyze problems at the local level for the area under consideration, develop new planning principles, and devise solutions for sustainable spatial development. In cooperation with the city of Stuttgart and the HfWU’s Master’s program in Sustainable Mobilities, holistic solutions were developed; the task also included setting the group’s own planning priorities.

Supervision:

MA Christina Wilkens

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Henning Krug

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Dechow (HfT Stuttgart)

The concept of knowledge-based urban development, using Nürtingen as an example, formed the content framework for the design lab. The focus was on upgrading the outdoor facilities at Max Planck Gymnasium, located not far from the city center. Together with the existing buildings, which have been repeatedly renovated and expanded since 1914, the outdoor facilities currently present themselves as a conglomeration of different time layers and educational ideas. They have to meet a wide range of requirements in a limited space. The design lab was tasked with developing ideas for the

 contemporary redevelopment of the aging school grounds. 

An important part of this was planning and running a workshop with students. The participation process figured out how the young people see “their” school grounds and what wishes and ideas they have for redesigning them. 

Supervision:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger

Dr. Anna Szilagy-Nagy

On the third day of the excursion, the students traveled to Freising early in the morning. After a brief exploration of the city center and the Domberg, the focus shifted to the analysis of historical and current landscape architecture projects. As part of a drawing exercise, model figures were sketched in a real environment to examine spatial relationships. The groups then visited the gardens and perennial display gardens at Weihenstephan University, which provided practical insights into contemporary plant planning.

On the fourth day, the group visited the Olympic Park in Munich. There, they analyzed and documented the urban and landscape planning qualities of the site. This was followed by a short visit to BMW World and a detour to the former Olympic Village, which is now used as student accommodation, among other things. In the afternoon, there were guided tours of the community-oriented housing projects Wagnis 1 and Wagnis 4, as well as the community garden “Stadtacker.” In addition, the urban planning concept for the Ackermannbogen district was presented, with a particular focus on energy concepts, social sustainability, and district management.

On the fifth and final day, the program was adjusted due to weather conditions. Instead of an outdoor excursion, the students visited the Glyptothek, where a sketching session took place. This was followed by the return journey. 

Supervision:

 Typologie                                         Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Sachse

 Bau- und Gartengeschichte           Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Meier

 Gestalten                                   Franziska Korn

 Vegetation                                   Norgard Österle

 Ressourceneffizientes Bauen       Prof. Dr. Nicole Pfoser

 Architektursoziologie und   Raummethoden                               Prof. PD. Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Oliver Frey

The bachelor thesis, with a focus on design and building construction, dealt with the upgrading of the campus grounds and the enhancement of the quality of stay by means of open space design, the external image of the university, and the connection of the area to the banks of the Fil River.

In contrast, the bachelor thesis with an urban planning focus dealt with the surroundings of the university location: the upgrading of the banks of the Fils river and new urban planning impulses on adjacent properties, the strengthening of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and the closer connection of the university area with the old town.

Supervision:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Meier

On the first day of the field trip, the students traveled to Munich. After an introductory lecture, they received thematic input on the English Garden, covering its historical development, design, and urban integration. The park was then explored and analyzed during an on-site tour.

The second day began with another lecture, which served as the basis for the following tasks. In small groups, the students worked on various squares along the axis from Königsplatz to Ludwigstraße. The aim was to capture the spatial structure, composition, and formal and material language of these places and to critically evaluate their uses. Finally, the groups presented their results in a plenary session and discussed them together.

Supervision:

 Typologie                                         Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Sachse

 Bau- und Gartengeschichte           Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Meier

 Gestalten                                   Franziska Korn

 Vegetation                                   Norgard Österle

 Ressourceneffizientes Bauen       Prof. Dr. Nicole Pfoser

 Architektursoziologie und   Raummethoden                               Prof. PD. Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Oliver Frey

Inner-city conversion areas play a key role in sustainable urban development. While it was initially the derelict areas of the barracks and the manufacturing industry that were converted, the real estate boom of recent years has also brought previously little-noticed peripheral areas into focus. The site at the former port in Kassel is one such area. Here, a pilot project by a private investor is creating a comprehensive approach to the subsequent use of commercial enterprises, some of which are already derelict. In addition to sustainable and socially responsible residential development, the issues of “blue-green open spaces” and green connections play a particularly important role. The area surrounding the port is closely linked to the banks of the Fulda and the park at the historic lock.
As part of the Bachelor’s thesis, designs with an urban planning or structural design focus were developed, depending on the specialization.

Supervision:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Heseler-Lülff
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger

The task of the first semester students was to design a garden with an architectural reference to the given building and in connection with the residents they had chosen. A profile, concept and various plans and views were drawn up.

Supervision:
Prof. Dr.- Ing. Birgit Kröniger

The first-year students learned important design basics in various exercises on the topics of “Form and Function”, “Line and Structure” and the “Representation and Abstraction of Vegetation”. The results were then summarised in a leporello.

Supervision:
Prof. Dr.- Ing. Birgit Kröniger

The importance of versatile green and open spaces for the quality of life in our cities is becoming increasingly clear in view of the effects of climate change. Not only traditional parks, residential courtyards and gardens play an important role here. There is also great potential in the creative activation of unconventional and multi-utilised types of open space. The further development of the listed Paketposthalle in Munich, an architectural icon from the 1960s, into the defining public open space of the planned PaketPost-Areal urban quarter offers one such opportunity.
The focus of the bachelor’s thesis was the examination of the open space utilisation of the hall and the adjacent green areas, with a design or structural design focus depending on the specialisation.

Supervision:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Heseler-Lülff

In the subject ‘Space and Form’, urban districts in Tübingen were analysed and further developed in summer semester 2024. The aim was to analyse how buildings, open spaces and streets function on the basis of the lecture and to develop their own strategies for designing urban spaces. The students were able to choose between four neighbourhoods: Mühlenviertel, Alte Weberei, Französisches Viertel and Lorettoviertel. What they learned was then to be presented in a draft concept for the further development of the neighbourhood.

Supervision: Prof Rainer Sachse

Together with Pennsylvania State University, we have redesigned three church yards in Cologne’s city centre at the invitation of the Diocese of Cologne. The aim was to create lively meeting places that generate more benefit for people and the urban space. The designs were developed in international teams and then turned into models by the Nürtingen students.

Instructors:                                           Prof. Rainer Sachse (HFWU), David Welter (PennState / AIB), Prof. Paul Daniel Marriott (PennState)

In groups, the students of the 2nd semester had to redesign and plan the public green spaces and the roadside greenery of Rossdorf, Nürtingen

A inventory plan and design plan was drawn up, as well as design and implementation plans of sub-areas in individual work.

Supervision: 

David Jones

The design of a front garden was the task in the first design project and laid the foundation for the development of design skills. The first-semester students had to reconcile form and function with technical, social, ecological, and economic requirements in a complex design process. It was clear that a bare gravel area should be avoided and that the previously developed profile of the residents should be taken into account. The results were illustrated and summarized in a brochure.

Supervisor: Prof. Dr.- Ing. Birgit Kröniger

The first-year students learned important design basics in various exercises on the topics of “Form and Function”, “Line and Structure” and the “Representation and Abstraction of Vegetation”. The results were then summarised in a leporello.

Supervisior:
Prof. Annegret Stöcker

Tutor:

Prof. Dipl.-Ing Rainer Sachse,
Prof. Annegret Stöcker

For the seminar “Solving complex design tasks”, the 6th semester LAE traveled to Barcelona to explore the planning area for the Lenné Prize at the Forum and to get to know the exciting open spaces, architecture and urban design of Barcelona.

Supervision:

Prof. Dipl-Ing Rainer Sachse

Kerstin Winandi
Björn Hinners