2021 Conference – Urban Transformation: Resources

In its 2016 flagship report “Humanity on the Move”, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WGBU) identified time as one of three “master builders of cities”, in addition to power and hardship. TIME, as a scarce and non-reproducible resource, plays a vital role in the necessary transformation towards sustainability (WBGU 2011). This is particularly apparent in metropolitan regions when considering the issues of climate protection, the provision of housing and preparation for demographic change. How can the necessary transitions be designed such as to preserve democratic participation in urban development, despite the scarcity of time in an accelerated world (Rosa 2012)? The time available to each person places limits on the general resource time, despite its even distribution – each person has 24 hours, every day. From a societal perspective, our modern age has assumed an endless availability of time (each generation is given new time). But the ongoing debate of climate change has undermined this perception of seemingly inexhaustible reserves of time. A sense of urgency has emerged, accompanied by perplexity as to how to manage the pressing challenges.

This Call invites the submission of contributions that address TIME as a resource in metropolitan regions and, for instance, ask questions about:

• Acceleration and resource consumption
• Planning under time pressure vs. claims to participation
• Paradoxical responses to time pressure in the climate debate
• The time regime of efficiency (growth, acceleration) vs. the time regime of sufficiency (post-growth, resonance)

SPACE is a precious and now fiercely contested resource in metropolitan regions. While more rural regions have sufficient areas for housing, work, leisure pursuits, culture, sport, transport, industry and trade, the living space in cities is becoming increasingly scarce due to the persistent influx of new residents. Concepts aimed at densification, improved and multiple utilisation and the distribution and management of space are in demand and have been promoted noticeably for some time. The thematic track of SPACE as a resource seeks to embrace these concepts, without neglecting the causes and long-term implications of space requirements in metropolitan regions.

Possible contributions in this thematic track will explore the following issues:

• Parks and parking – free space and land usage
• Shared spaces – work, housing, leisure and transport
• Cities and surrounding areas – supply and infrastructure
• Meeting spaces – identity and appropriation

In future, housing, everyday life, work and mobility must no longer lead to the release of climate-damaging gases – neither locally nor through energy production using fossil fuels and transport over extended distances. The thematic track of ENERGY investigates how energy requirements can be reduced for all life functions and which opportunities exist for the green production, distribution and use of energy. It focuses on sustainable solutions for energy systems in urban spaces: concepts for building design and the use of renewable energies at the building and neighbourhood level, as well as the establishment of smart grids that combine housing with mobility.

Possible contributions in this thematic track will explore the following issues:

• Urban energy balance – needs and potential
• Efficient buildings and neighbourhoods – construction, maintenance and management
• User behaviour – sufficiency and smart cities
• Regenerative energies – sources, storage and grids
• Urban energy transition – heat, power, mobility

How do we want to deal with materials in urban environments in the future?

This question covers the entire area of material management. Processes in urban life must encompass complete recycling and not come to an end once a material has been used.

Here, the aim within the construction sector is to create a completely closed loop for building materials: cradle to cradle, urban mining. This focuses on resource-saving, sustainable and dismantlable construction, as well as on the use of reusable and recycled building materials. One of the key aims is to preserve our current building stock.

We approach the use of commodities and consumables in a similar way: extension of service life, reduction in volumes (especially pollutants) and keeping recyclable materials with equal value in the loop.

As a society, how can we create our own incentives for sustainable consumption?

Possible contributions in this thematic track will explore the following issues:

• Life-cycle – repair, service life and adaptability
• Urban mining – cities as material warehouses – circular economy – local production and recycling systems
• Preserving value – transformation without loss
• Maintaining the building stock, sustainable construction

Researchers were requested to submit an abstract of 400 to 600 words (no more than zwo DIN A4 pages) and assign it to one of the four thematic tracks. Abstracts for scientific contributions should briefly outline the research question and methodological approach, as well as key findings and conclusions. Contributions could be submitted in German or English.

An interdisciplinary jury decided on the selection of entries. The submitters were notified of the results of the selection process by mid-April 2020.

Project presenters were asked to submit an abstract of 400 to 600 words (no more than two DIN A4 pages) and to assign it to one of the four thematic tracks. Abstracts for project contributions should briefly outline the concept, innovative aspects, methods of implementation, sustainable effects of the project as well as findings and challenges. Contributions can be submitted in German or English.

An interdisciplinary jury decided on the selection of entries. The submitters were notified of the results of the selection process by mid-April 2020.

Project and initiative teams were also invited to present innovative projects in the form of excursions/interventions in Munich. Interested parties are asked to submit an abstract of 400 to 600 words (no more than two DIN A4 pages) and to assign it to one of the four thematic tracks. Abstracts for excursions/interventions should briefly outline the concept, innovative aspects, methods of implementation, sustainable effects of the project as well as findings and challenges. Contributions can be submitted in German or English.

An interdisciplinary jury decided on the selection of entries. The submitters were notified of the results of the selection process by mid-April 2020.

Martin Aichholzer, Department Building and Design, FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences
Gerald Beck, Department of Applied Social Science, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Oliver Bohlen, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Vicente Carabias-Hütter, School of Engineering, Institute of Sustainable Development, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Marc Diebäcker, Department of Social Work, FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences
Peter Jenni, School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering, Institute Urban Landscape, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Andrea Kustermann, Department of Civil Engineering, Munich University of Applied Sciences (conference chair)
Silke Langenberg, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich
Robert Meier-Staude, Department of Engineering and Management, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Christian Schweigler, Department of Building Services Engineering, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Christoph Stoik, Department of Social Work, FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences
Markus Wellenzohn, Department of Engineering, FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences