Obsolete city: Study on the space potential of our cities

From 2020 to 2023, an interdisciplinary research team led by the University of Kassel looked at obsolete spaces in major German cities. The study “Obsolete city – space potentials for a common good-oriented, climate-friendly and co-productive urban development practice in growing cities” shows that there are a great many of them. Couldn’t the majority of urgent uses, such as residential development, be covered here?

The study was initiated and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The nine-member research team examined the effects of megatrends and disruptions on growing German cities. They analyzed which typologies are exposed to the risk of obsolescence and which adaptation measures would be possible. This ultimately led to the development of sustainable transformation approaches for an obsolete city.

So far, the causes of urban obsolescence have not been systematically researched. What is certain, however, is that megatrends are predominantly influencing our urban typologies these days. Many building types and spaces are therefore coming under pressure as they have to meet changing usage requirements. However, this can also be interpreted as an important resource for the inner development of growing cities.

Megatrends are long-lasting and fundamental social developments that have a direct impact on the use of space. They are partly responsible for buildings and urban spaces falling into disuse. In past decades, obsolescence was primarily a side effect of globalization. Now new megatrends are being added: climate change, digitalization, the energy and transport transition and religious change. The majority of the space being freed up is attributed to digitalization. It will therefore be a crucial aspect of urban planning to identify such trends with foresight and deal with them in a future-oriented manner. The “Obsolete City” research project identifies four fields of action in this regard: Trade, work, mobility and religiosity.

So what can be changed in the city? The federal government is responding to megatrends, for example with the “Sustainable inner cities and centers” funding programme. Among other things, large areas could be found in the area of stationary traffic. In Hamburg, for example, there are over 700 hectares of ground-level parking spaces that are only partially used. The 49-euro ticket is also already easing the burden on Germany’s roads. The change in religion also opens up new possibilities. For example, cemeteries could be repurposed as other types of open space after a period of piety. At the same time, our cities are launching more and more experiments – whether pop-up cycle paths, more intensive greenery or traffic calming. With this in mind, the research team suggests that the obsolete city should be seen as an opportunity. After all, it seems problematic to simply leave these areas to speculation.

“The transformation of the obsolete city is therefore in full swing”. The study shows that both experts and the general public need to make one adjustment in particular: their awareness of the issue. The transformation to the obsolete city is taking place against a systemic background. There are also districts and neighborhoods in which urban obsolescence is accumulating. However, this does not turn them into problem districts, but rather into areas of potential. It would be good to experiment with future-oriented planning here. Neighborhoods need to become more climate-adapted anyway and include more uses oriented towards the common good. The energy and transport transition must also be addressed. To this end, the study developed instruments for concrete implementation. And it has a further appeal: Federal policy should continue the redevelopment law as an “urban redevelopment and transformation measure”.

You can find out more about the study here.

Also interesting: The Munich 2023 high-rise study, a discussion about tall buildings.