What Might the Future Look Like for Rural Areas in Europe? EU Expert Exchange
»From Vision to Action: Co-Creating Rural Futures« – experts from the European Commission, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the »stiftung baukultur thüringen« and the Bauhaus4EU Network will be meeting in Brussels on 25 June 2024 to discuss shaping rural areas and developing potential concepts. The aim of the event is to launch a collaborative process for the development of rural areas in cooperation with European regions in order to influence European policy decisions related to the 10th general EU programme.
»Our hope is that this event provides a platform for exchanging ideas on supporting rural development in Europe. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is home to specialists with incredible expertise in this field and who have been researching rural issues for a long time. We hope to open up a dialogue where we can share new perspectives and we are especially excited that our Bauhaus4EU Network partners will be joining«, says Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
The aim of the afternoon is to not only share experiences and recommendations, but also to develop collaborative action plans that expand upon the objectives set out in the EU rural strategy. The event will focus on the sustainable use and development of existing buildings, innovative solutions for overcoming local challenges through digital technologies and the fostering social participation to strengthen the sense of community.
The event will kick off with a welcome and introduction by Prof Dr Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff, Head of the Thüringer Staatskanzlei (Thuringian State Chancellery), and Prof Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. This will be followed by a presentation on transforming rural regions by Katja Fischer from the »stiftung baukultur thüringen«, and various World Café sessions with experts from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. The intention is to develop ideas and specifications for rural policies on buildings as resources, mobility, digitalisation, and community and society. The event will conclude with a panel discussion with Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff, Peter Wehrheim, Silvia Nanni and Alina Ujupan. This will wind down with a networking reception.
The World Café »Tables« at a glance:
Buildings as a resource / Gebäude als Ressource
Moderation: Jessica Christoph, »Sommerfrische Schwarzatal Haus Bräutigam« IBA Project
Participants from Thuringia:
- Elke Bergt, Director of the »Evangelische Kirche in Mitteldeutschland« Building Department – IBA Project »2.000 Kirchen«
- Christine Dörner, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Department of Conservation and History of Architecture
- Sebastian Schröter, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Sustainability Practices
Mobility and Digitalisation / Mobilität und Digitalisierung
Moderation: Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Participants from Thuringia:
- Oliver A. Bucklin, ETH Zurich, Architecture and Digital Fabrication – »Timber Prototype House« IBA Project, Apolda
- Alexandra Hunger, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Department of Transport System Planning, European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Project
- Jr. Prof. Dr. Maurice Jakesch, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Department of Computational Social Science
Community & Society / Gemeinschaft & Gesellschaft
Moderation: Dr. Ulrike Kuch, Vice President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Participants from Thuringia:
- Hanka Giller, City of Saalfeld, Director of the »Büros für Jugend, Sport, Soziales« IBA Project »Ankunft StadtLand – Werkhaus Saalfeld«
- Prof. Jörn Hintzer, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Department of Cross-Media Moving Image
- Katrin Hitziggrad, »LeerGut-Agentinnen und –Agenten« IBA Project
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sigrun Langner, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Department of Landscape Architecture and Planning