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Urban development lives and profits from the international exchange of experiences and ideas. Berlin has a long tradition of this. In view of the major issues of the future, however, the city needs a new impetus in international cooperation projects and exchange. It is vital to find out exactly how projects are set up managed elsewhere, how old and new centres, railway projects and high streets, parks and industrial sites, existing and new residential neighborhoods are planned and designed for the future. An essential part of the programme accompanying the “Unfinished Metropolis” are therefore the International Metropolis Conferences which present guests and experts, idea and influences from the respective European capital featured.

The “London-Berlin” conference addresses a topic of particular importance in urban planning for both cities: the rapid change of High Streets and outer Town Centres. Over the past 15 years, London has developed various strategies to make them more urban and attractive and to respond to people’s changing shopping behavior. More than 250 M GBP have been invested in a series of programmes focused on regeneration and economic growth – a good opportunity to discuss what Berlin can learn, but also what strategies might not work. What has happened, who has made change happen, how has the public taken to these investments? We would like to discuss how public realm improvements and modal change are making a contribution to positive change. How development of affordable and mixed use housing has been helping (or not). How new ways of working and trading can pilot new approaches to reviving ground floors. How good design can foster lasting change.

A small number of expert speakers from London and Berlin has been invited to discuss this in a half day conference: Ülker Radziwill (State Secretary for Tenant Protection and Neighbourhood Development), Duggan (Head of Regeneration London City Hall), Fiona Scott (Gort Scott Architects), Alpa Depani (Head of Design London Waltham Forest), Julian Lewis (East Architecture) und Elke Plate (Projectleader Division Urban Development Planning at Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing). Moderation: Tobias Goevert und Cordelia Polinna.

Urban design lives and benefits from the international exchange of experience and ideas. Berlin has a long tradition of exchange and dialogue in this field. In view of the major urban planning issues of the future, however, the city needs new impetus in the international dialog and consequently target-oriented cooperation projects. Learning exactly how projects are managed elsewhere in Europe, how old and new centers, rail projects and urban main roads, parks and industrial sites, existing and new residential neighborhoods are designed for the future, is helpful and important.

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the twinning of Paris and Berlin, the conference wants to give new impetus to the international exchange of experiences and ideas for European urban development following up an expert conference held in Paris on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the city partnership and aiming to lay a foundation for a future regular exchange.

The patron is the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, the organizers are the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing with the Senate Department for the Environment, Mobility, Consumer and Climate Protection. The Architects and Engineers Association of Berlin-Brandenburg is a civil society partner and co-organizer.

The conference on the “Future of the (un)completed metropolises of Paris and Berlin” will focus on the urban development challenges that both the French and German capitals must overcome in the 21st century. Themes will include in particular:

• the development of centers and neighborhoods in both cities,
• the urgent challenge of building affordable, sustainable and beautiful housing in livable neighborhoods,
• the socio-ecological urban redevelopment in the context of the traffic turnaround and climate protection,
• the green qualification offensives for parks, shore areas, (rooftop) gardens, forests close to the city, which provide livable and ecological public spaces.

Speakers are invited to present individual projects which are being pushed forward in Paris and Berlin – among others the planning of the ” ville du quart d’heure ” and its impact on Paris and the suburbs; the strengthening of existing centers in Berlin and the construction of 17 new urban quarters to create new workplaces and new, affordable housing; the transformation of public space, traffic and mobility, as is being realized in Paris on the Avenue des Champs Élysées; Berlin’s green urban development and its measures and projects (Charter for Berlin’s Urban Green). The development of the metropolitan regions, i.e. the interconnections between Berlin and Brandenburg as well as Paris with its many suburbs in the Grand Paris region, is also always a focus.

Program: (details to follow shortly here)

Block 1:
The future of centers
Urban residential quarters of the future – mixture, densification, environment design

Block 2:
The future of mobility
Urban green / ecological transformation

All speeches will be simultaneously translated French German. A live stream of the conference will be online on this website.

Followed by: Reception with buffet

Location: Festsaal at the Rotes Rathaus Berlin