On March 25 and 26, we held a workshop focused on the theme of “Understanding.” The goal was to explore the practical use of Virtual Reality (VR) as a tool for public participation in planning processes. Participants were guided by Mr. Quaas, the urban designer behind the three functional design studies for the train station, through two different design variants — each presented in an immersive VR environment. 

This setup allowed participants to experience and compare different forms of spatial representation. Afterwards, they were asked to share their impressions through a structured questionnaire. The clarity and accessibility of the VR models, especially in comparison to traditional plans, received particularly positive feedback, as did Mr. Quaas’s expert and engaging moderation.

Overall, the workshop showed that VR has strong potential to communicate complex planning content in an understandable way and to enhance citizen engagement in planning discussions.