Sustainable City

Vision: Sustainable City

The vision "Sustainable City" researches and develops future model neighbourhoods. In this way, we create guiding principles and concepts for the economically, ecologically and socially sustainable urban development across generations. The various aspects of the vision of a sustainable city are put into practice and examined in detail using the example of the university campus as a model district.

Our aim is to create, maintain or increase the quality of life in a sustainable city through a variety of measures. Among other things, we seek to achieve a high quality of living through an attractive microclimate by means of holistic planning or active measures such as greening. In doing so, we aim to reduce or avoid local emissions and thus to improve the quality of air and water as well as increase noise protection. Buildings and neighbourhoods are being used as energy generators and storages, with active or breathing building envelopes (facades). In connection with suitable energy storage technologies, renewable energies contribute to the supply of the sustainable city. Correctly selecting energy conversion processes is of decisive importance for achieving a highly energy-efficient overall system.

Energy recovery in the sense of recycling management and energy-autonomous sensor technology are important aspects of this. Space efficiency and resource efficiency are decisive parameters for the overall balance of energy and material flows. Planning and evaluating the necessary measures requires highly detailed city modelling, in which the various models must be developed with an interdisciplinary and co-ordinated approach across the various visions. Appropriate marketing and communication strategies support these change processes through user participation. The necessary social acceptance will be achieved through new procedures for concept development and innovative processes of participation.