Rethinking the urban waterfronts: reunification of port and city = Fahrstieg /reiherstieg: wilhelmsburg, Erasmus ip workshop, 13-27 February 2011, Hafencity Universitat, Hamburg

Abstract

The workshop methodology was based on international and interdisciplinary teamwork. Students and instructors from different schools, backgrounds, and countries worked together in mixed groups. This collaboration aimed to create a platform for the exchange of ideas, architectural and urban planning approaches, and cultural perspectives.

Each workshop was organized around a specific waterfront site selected within the host city. During the two-week intensive program, students were introduced to the local context through lectures, field trips, and presentations by local experts, planners, and academics.

Participants analyzed the physical, historical, social, and economic aspects of the site, identified the potentials and problems, and then developed proposals that were not only design-oriented but also socially and environmentally responsive. The final presentations included conceptual strategies, urban design proposals, and visuals such as diagrams, sketches, and 3D models. These outcomes were shared in an open exhibition and published in a project booklet for broader dissemination.

The significance of the “Rethinking the Urban Waterfronts” program lies in its commitment to:

Encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation in architectural and urban planning education

Promoting cultural exchange and dialogue among students and educators from different European cities

Exploring sustainable and inclusive design approaches in transforming urban waterfronts

Creating awareness of the social, ecological, and spatial implications of changing waterfront uses

This program also provided students with the experience of working in an international academic environment, developing their communication and team-working skills, and deepening their understanding of diverse urban conditions and planning practices.

In the following years, the project continued its journey in Valencia and Antwerp, completing the four-year cycle. Each city provided a unique setting, new challenges, and a rich cultural context, enhancing the learning and creative outcomes of the participants.

Ultimately, "Rethinking the Urban Waterfronts" succeeded in becoming more than just a design workshop series—it became a collaborative learning platform fostering long-term academic and professional relationships across Europe.