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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

In the Landscape Design module of the 7th semester LAE, the students analysed the conditions in Schorndorf and designed measures for what sustainable development in Schorndorf could look like.

Supervisor:
Prof. Dr. Henning Krug

Together with students from Pennsylvania State University, we explored Venice through drawing. On the first day we explored the city, on the second day we visited the Architecture Biennale and sketched various projects. The last two days were spent sketching ideas for new open spaces in Venice.

> Impressions Venice Workshop

Supervision:
Prof. Rainer Sachse (HFWU)
David Welters (AIB / PennState)

For this year’s cooperation project with Pennsylvania State University, we traveled to Venice for a week!  We visited the architecture Biemanle, analyzed the city, made impromptu designs and enjoyed a great time together in the lagoon city. Here are some impressions of our “Venice Design Charette”…

Supervision:
Prof. Rainer Sachse (HFWU)
David Welters (AIB / PennState)

Photos:
Jens Abele, Florian Königs, Rainer Sachse, Ronja Sahler, David Welters

The city of Karlsruhe is home to many innovative companies, particularly in the IT sector. In order to provide high-tech companies with a high-quality environment, the city of Karlsruhe has developed a technology park in the Rintheim district. The aim is to offer the companies an address with a flagship character and the employees an attractive working environment. In order to further develop the technology park as a green, sustainable district, the open spaces are to be radically rethought. The aim is to develop a unique address for the technology park that reflects the innovative strength and sense of responsibility for the environment of the companies based there.

Instructors:
Prof. Rainer Sachse
Prof. Dr. Dirk Stendel

The town of Miltenberg is located in north-western Bavaria on the River Main near the Hessian border at the interface between the Odenwald and Spessart.
The aim of the bachelor thesis is to redesign a central section of Miltenberg’s riverbank in a prototypical and image-building manner, to identify the potential of the area for tourism, culture and local recreation and to connect the sub-areas in a new quality. Problems such as flooding, climate adaptation,
Main river experience, high utilization pressure, seasonal business, connection of riverside areas to each other and to the old town, are challenges that must be solved in form and detail.

Supervision:
Prof. Rainer Sachse
Prof. Dr. Dirk Stendel

The Balingen State Garden Show was a huge success with almost 500,000 visitors. We are very happy to have contributed to this success story with our student ‘bridge gardens’! The gardens were designed in collaboration with students from Pennsylvania State University.

photos:
Nathalie Rothweiler + Claudia Langenbucher

advisors:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing- Rainer Sachse
Prof. Kenneth Tamminga (Pennsylvania State University)
David Welters (AIB)

In Besigheim, the Neckar is hidden behind a commercial area and dense vegetation. The task was to create connections between the medieval old town and the river bank and to develop the Neckar bank into an attractive address for local recreation and tourism.

Supervisor:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Kröniger
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dirk Stendel

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