©
Gene Glover
Welcome to the website of the new Department for Participation and Co-Creation in Open Space Planning at the Institute for Open Space Planning and Design at Leibniz University Hannover!
Professors Anna Bernegg (CV) and Dr Cordelia Polinna (CV) jointly head the department and closely link research and teaching with practical application. Both founded the Forward Planning and Research office in 2022. Cordelia Polinna is also the founder of the Institute for Resilience in Rural Areas (www.irlr.de).
Open spaces shape our towns and villages. They provide space for living, working and meeting. However, dwindling resources and major social challenges such as climate change and demographic change are intensifying competition for their use. Spatial planning offers a central, practical field for highlighting these conflicts, discussing them and developing joint solutions.
Our department sees itself as an interdisciplinary platform that develops solutions to these challenges – together with local people, decision-makers in politics and administration, business and civil society. Participatory open space development enables everyone to actively shape their living environment and gain their own experiences of participation and self-efficacy. This is not only important for better planning results – it also strengthens our democratic coexistence in times of growing polarisation.
Our core topics
Integrated open spaces
We take a holistic view of open spaces: as flexible spaces that combine mobility, social participation and climate and environmental protection.
Co-creative transformation
Participatory processes are the key to effective solutions. Joint design results in plans and projects that work – and are supported by the community.
Resilient structures
Open spaces must be able to change. Adaptable structures enable cities and rural regions to remain sustainable even in times of unforeseen crises.
Places of learning for democracy
Spatial planning with genuine participation is democracy in action. It allows people to experience that their voice counts – and thus strengthens their trust in democratic processes.
