08.01.2026

The Future of Urban Land-Use Planning – Resilience as a Legally Enshrined Standard?

Building design

How cities are anchoring resilience as a binding benchmark in planning

Resilience as the New Gold Standard for Urban Development? The future of urban land-use planning is on the verge of a revolution: What was previously considered a voluntary bonus could soon become a legal requirement. Amid the climate crisis, urbanization, and growing complexity, experts are calling for resilience to no longer be the exception, but rather a mandatory planning standard. Those who still hesitate now run the risk of missing the boat when it comes to the upcoming challenges of urban development.

Definition and Significance of Resilience in Urban Land-Use Planning
Legal Foundations and Current Developments in German, Austrian, and Swiss Planning Law
Practical Examples: How Resilient Is Planning Today?
Technological innovations and data integration as drivers of resilient planning
Risks and opportunities of enshrining resilience in law
Recommendations for Planners and Municipalities: What Needs to Be Done Now
Stakeholders, Governance, and Social Acceptance
Outlook: The Resilient City as a New Model for Urban Land-Use Planning

Resilience—From Buzzword to Cornerstone of Urban Land-Use Planning

Anyone involved in urban and regional planning today cannot avoid the term “resilience.” The term originally comes from psychology and refers to a system’s ability to recover from disruptions. In urban and landscape planning, resilience has long since established itself as a key concept that goes far beyond mere disaster preparedness. It refers not only to the ability to respond to extreme events such as floods or heat waves, but rather to proactive resilience: cities and neighborhoods should be designed in such a way that they can respond flexibly to changes and disruptions—whether these are climatic, social, or economic challenges.

In urban land-use planning—that is, the binding regulation of building and landscape development through land-use and zoning plans—resilience has, however, often been treated rather incidentally thus far. Nature conservation, climate adaptation, risk prevention—all of these are addressed in the relevant laws and guidelines. But a clear, legally binding obligation to engage in resilient planning has so far been nowhere to be found. That is changing now: Pressure is mounting to enshrine resilience in law as a new cornerstone of spatial planning. After all, the climate crisis makes no compromises and does not wait for voluntary pioneers.

Experts are therefore calling for resilience to no longer be treated as a “nice-to-have” in mission statements and pilot projects, but rather to be incorporated as a binding criterion into the Building Code and state building regulations. This would mean: Every planning project, every new neighborhood, and every repurposing of a building must demonstrate how it addresses future risks—not just in the environmental impact report, but as a central decision-making criterion. In this way, resilience could become the benchmark against which the quality and sustainability of land-use plans must be measured.

But what exactly does this mean in practice? How can resilience be made measurable? And how can it be formulated in a legally sound manner without becoming bogged down in vague provisions or bureaucracy? The answers to these questions are as diverse as the challenges cities face today. One thing is clear, however: Anyone who defines resilience as a standard must rethink planning—from methodology to public participation to implementation.

This is not just about technocratic control, but about a changed understanding of the roles of all stakeholders: planners, government agencies, investors, and civil society must learn to view uncertainty as an opportunity. Resilient urban land-use planning requires the courage to experiment, openness to new data sources, and the willingness to question traditional routines. For only in this way can the city of tomorrow not only survive but thrive—despite all crises.

Legal Perspectives: Will Resilience Become a Mandatory Standard?

A look at the law books reveals that urban land-use planning in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is a complex web of federal regulations, EU directives, and municipal statutes. The German Building Code (BauGB) sets out the basic principles but leaves plenty of room for local adaptations. So far, the code has primarily included references to environmental precaution, climate protection, and sustainable development. Resilience, if mentioned at all, appears only implicitly—for example, in risk analysis or the consideration of flood hazards.

In recent years, however, political and societal expectations have shifted. The amendment to the Climate Adaptation Act, the EU Directive on the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure, and the recommendations of the German Academy for Urban and Regional Planning (DASL) make it clear: lawmakers are under pressure to act. Some federal states have already begun to explicitly integrate resilience into their state building codes and climate adaptation strategies. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, municipalities have been required since 2023 to submit a “risk and resilience assessment” with every planning proposal—a first that could set a precedent nationwide.

The signals are clear at the European level as well. In its Urban Agenda and Green Deal, the EU calls for cities to become not only carbon-neutral but also climate- and socially resilient. Funding is increasingly being tied to the demonstration of resilience strategies. This is fundamentally changing the framework for urban land-use planning: What was once considered visionary is now becoming a mandatory requirement.

But how can resilience be operationalized in a legally sound manner? Experts are discussing various approaches: from clear indicators and assessment criteria to mandatory scenario analyses and new participatory formats that involve stakeholders at an early stage. One thing is clear: Resilience must be concrete, verifiable, and enforceable—otherwise, it remains a paper tiger. This requires new points of intersection between planning, environmental law, disaster preparedness, and digitalization.

Planners and government agencies are therefore well advised to address the upcoming requirements early on. Those who invest now in continuing education, data management, and interdisciplinary collaboration will not be caught off guard by future regulations. After all, the era of voluntary compliance is coming to an end—and the future of urban land-use planning is either resilient or it is nothing at all.

Practice and Innovation: How Resilience Is Transforming Planning Practice

Resilient urban land-use planning is not an abstract goal, but has long been standard practice—at least in municipalities that are actively shaping the transition. A look at current projects reveals just how diverse the approaches are: In Hamburg, for example, the development of new neighborhoods systematically assesses how land uses impact heavy rainfall, summer heat, and air quality. Green corridors, infiltration areas, and fresh-air corridors are not merely “included in the planning” but are understood as key structural elements.

In Zurich, digital tools are being used to embed resilience into urban development. Digital city models, sensor data, and AI-supported simulations make it possible to test various climate scenarios and flexibly adapt measures. This helps avoid planning errors and identify potential at an early stage—a true quantum leap compared to traditional paper-based planning.

In Vienna, too, it is evident how resilience as a guiding principle is transforming urban design: By integrating participatory processes, not only expert knowledge but also local experiences and everyday skills are incorporated into the planning. This increases acceptance and makes measures more sustainable. Resilience thus becomes the unifying thread for a new, learning-oriented planning culture.

Technological innovations are playing an increasingly important role in this process: Urban Digital Twins, geographic information systems, and open data platforms provide the foundation for data-driven resilience strategies. Instead of static plans, dynamic decision-making frameworks emerge that can respond to current developments. This opens up entirely new possibilities for planners—but also demands new skills and responsibilities.

It is important to note that resilience is not an end in itself, nor is it a purely technical issue. It must always be considered within the context of social, environmental, and economic goals. Only then can true added value be created—for the city, its people, and the environment. The best examples show that where resilience is consistently implemented, it leads not only to greater safety but also to a higher quality of life and more innovation.

Risks, Opportunities, and Governance—Who Will Steer the Resilient Future?

The legal enshrinement of resilience holds enormous opportunities—but also risks. On the one hand, it can help cities and municipalities be better prepared for crises, minimize damage, and implement innovations more quickly. On the other hand, there is a danger that resilience will degenerate into a mere formality or be stifled by technocratic overregulation. Striking a balance between legal requirements and local autonomy is crucial.

A central issue is governance: Who defines what resilient planning means? Which stakeholders are involved? And how can conflicting goals between climate adaptation, social justice, and economic development be resolved? This requires clear responsibilities, transparent processes, and an open dialogue between government, politics, business, and civil society.

The integration of new technologies raises additional questions: How is data collected, used, and protected? Who controls digital city models and simulation tools? What role do commercial providers play? Data protection, data sovereignty, and digital participation are key challenges that must be addressed early on.

Another risk: Resilience must not be allowed to degenerate into a mere buzzword. If it is not underpinned by concrete goals, measurable indicators, and effective measures, it risks becoming an excuse for inaction. At the same time, there is a danger that vulnerable groups will be overlooked and that “resilient” solutions will primarily serve the interests of financially powerful actors. This calls for vigilance—and a willingness to view resilience as a societal model that includes everyone.

The opportunities, however, outweigh the risks: Those who take resilience seriously can make cities not only safer, but also more livable, innovative, and equitable. This requires the courage to break new ground, question old routines, and make participation a fundamental principle. Resilient urban land-use planning is not a destination but an ongoing process—open, adaptive, and committed to learning.

Outlook: The Resilient City as a New Model for Urban Land-Use Planning

The future of urban planning is already here—it is resilient, interconnected, and data-driven. What is still being discussed as a vision today could become a binding standard tomorrow. The legal framework for this is currently being established. It is crucial that planners, government agencies, and policymakers actively shape this change—rather than waiting until crises force them to do so.

Resilience as a legal standard requires a paradigm shift: away from linear control, toward flexible, adaptive processes. A shift away from mere risk mitigation toward proactively shaping the urban future. This can only succeed if all stakeholders pull together and view resilience as a shared responsibility.

Technology, digitalization, and data integration are indispensable tools in this process—but they are no substitute for creative planning, social innovation, and participatory governance. The best solutions emerge where expert knowledge and citizen experience, high-tech and low-tech, vision and reality come together.

The resilient city is not a static goal, but an ongoing process. It thrives on experimentation, mistakes, and learning loops. Urban land-use planning must therefore become more open, flexible, and bold. Those who invest now—in knowledge, cooperation, and infrastructure—will not only survive the city of tomorrow but shape it.

*Garten + Landschaft* stays on the cutting edge—with expertise, foresight, and a dash of self-deprecating humor. Because the future of urban land-use planning is anything but boring. It is challenging, exciting, and full of opportunities. Let’s make resilience the new standard—not just in the law, but at the heart of planning culture.

Summary: The future of urban land-use planning is facing a fundamental transformation: resilience is becoming the new standard and could soon become a legal requirement. Integrating resilience into planning requires a paradigm shift—away from rigid guidelines and toward flexible, adaptive processes. Legal, technological, and societal developments are driving this change. It is crucial that planners, public administrations, and society collectively take responsibility, dare to innovate, and establish resilience as a central guiding principle. Only in this way can cities and regions confidently meet the challenges of the climate crisis, urbanization, and societal change. Resilient urban land-use planning is not a sure thing—but it is the best insurance for the future of our cities.

20.01.2025

Design

Sculpture of the month: Stone postcard from Solingen

Building design

Bush knife: The Solingen cutting tool turned stone on the right by the hedge. On the left, an unnamed steel sculpture by Thomas Röthel

Steel products from Solingen, especially knives, are known all over the world. Even in the South American jungle, Bud Spencer warned his partner Terence Hill of a “postcard from Solingen” in his back – i.e. the switchblade in the hand of the sneaking attacker – in the 1973 cinema classic “Two Heavenly Dogs on the Road to Hell”. For the tenth anniversary […]

Steel products from Solingen, especially knives, are known all over the world. Even in the South American jungle, Bud Spencer warned his partner Terence Hill of a “postcard from Solingen” in his back – i.e. the switchblade in the hand of the sneaking attacker – in the 1973 cinema classic “Two Heavenly Dogs on the Road to Hell”. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Solingen Fair (June 8 & 9, 2018), a local natural stone company has now created an oversized stone knife.

The Solingen trade fair focuses on the products of local industry, in the classic city of blades, of course, especially the well-known steel products. Directly opposite the venue of this largest trade fair in the Bergisches Land region – the local ice rink – is the premises of Marmor Pauly, which has been working in natural stone since 1871. “A knife doesn’t always have to be made of steel,” thought owner Armin B. Pauly, architect and graduate civil engineer.

And it doesn’t have to be handy either: together with the self-employed stone sculptor Hartmut Hegener, he created a butter knife sculpture on a scale of 10:1 to place in front of the entrance to the trade fair and point out that, in addition to the proud steel tradition, there are also many years of stone masonry activity. The knife measures 2.30 meters with a handle made of polished Anröchter Grünstein, a calcareous sandstone from the Soest region. The finely ground blade made of “Belgian granite”, the Belgian equivalent of Aachen bluestone, was made with ground-in fiberglass reinforcement. The contrast between the darker blade and the lighter handle is enhanced by the different cut, which makes the Belgian bluestone appear particularly dark. For installation, the artwork was anchored on a base stone made of black Swedish in the area of the main entrance.

Art exhibition flanked the trade fair

Because Pauly is a cosmopolitan, art-loving person and the “knife made of natural stone” contains a wink at other materials, an art exhibition with a wide variety of materials was held on his factory premises opposite the trade fair from June 8 – 10, 2018 – in addition to works by sculptors and painters, including steel sculptures by Thomas Röthel and Stephan Mensler. This created a bridge between materials and street sides.

After the event ended, however, the city of Solingen showed no interest in keeping the potential postcard motif in front of the ice rink – so the monstrous knife will soon find a new home with a well-known steelware manufacturer.

12.01.2025

Design

Museum of 1000 Places

Building design

Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany has been commissioning art in architecture for its buildings in Germany and abroad since 1950. Over the decades, around 10,000 works have been created. Natural stone works are also included. Now the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) is making the works of art digitally accessible – via the online platform “Museum of 1000 Places”. In conversation with Dr. Ute […]

The Federal Republic of Germany has been commissioning art in architecture for its buildings in Germany and abroad since 1950. Over the decades, around 10,000 works have been created. Natural stone works are also included. Now the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) is making the works of art digitally accessible – via the online platform “Museum of 1000 Places”. In conversation with Dr. Ute Chibidziura, consultant for art in construction at the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, about the ambitious project.

Ute Chibidziura: It’s an online presentation for the federal government’s art in construction. In other words, art that is created in connection with construction projects. Since 1950, art in construction has been realized in federal buildings, so that over the years an internationally unique stock of post-war art has been created, which includes the works of many well-known artists in all genres and techniques. We wanted to present this collection of art, which is spread across hundreds of properties in Germany and abroad, in a bundled form.

Many works of art are not accessible to the public …

One peculiarity of art in architecture is that it is tied to the building and is realized in places that are only accessible to a few people for security reasons or, like embassies, are in geographically remote locations. As a result, there are numerous works of art that are little known or have fallen out of sight over the years. With the “Museum of 1000 Places”, we can bring them back into the public eye and make them accessible to the general public.

Why in the form of a virtual collection?

The collection comprises around 10,000 works of art in total. We couldn’t present them in an illustrated book or in an exhibition – that would go beyond any organizational and personnel framework. The “Museum of 1000 Places”, on the other hand, is structured in such a way that works of art can be added bit by bit and the museum grows continuously. In addition, changes can be made to the content at any time. Art in architecture would be difficult to show in a traditional exhibition anyway, because in order to illustrate its location in the spatial context, you would have to build a model of each room or building and prepare picture galleries and texts for it, which would mean an enormous amount of work for just a few examples. Another advantage of a virtual exhibition is that it is not tied to a specific location, but can be viewed from home via the Internet.

How does the digital museum visitor navigate through the site?

There are several ways to access the art: an intuitive one via the images of the artworks on the homepage, a systematic one via the artworks, artists or locations tabs and one via the free text search. Within the artworks, you can sort by technique or context of use.

What information can you find when you call up a work of art?

You will find detailed information about the artwork in its architectural context, about the building and the property, and of course about the artist. It explains the artist’s career, the focus of their work and where else they have realized art on buildings. All information and photos relating to a work of art are stored in the form of a PDF that can be downloaded.

How does the virtual museum build a bridge to the physical world?

The museum indicates whether a work of art is freely accessible or at least open to the public, so that you can also view Kunst am Bau as part of a Sunday stroll. In addition, all works of art will gradually be equipped with a QR code that can be used to link to the “Museum of 1000 Places” to obtain detailed information about the work of art.

Which works of art are made of natural stone?

One important example is the “Rising Phoenix” by Hannes Schulz-Tattenpach on the Old House of Representatives in Bonn. This work of art made of limestone was the first work to be selected and commissioned after the Second World War as part of an open art-in-architecture competition. The phoenix rising from the ashes was intended to refer to the situation of the Federal Republic of Germany at the time, which had to reorganize itself as a democratic state after the war. The motif was still considered so apt in 1974 that it was used as a stamp on a special postcard issued by Deutsche Post to mark the 25th anniversary of the Federal Republic.

You can take a look at the database here: www.museum-der-1000-orte.de.