Think the link. At - over - on the water. Reflections on urban regeneration processes and documentation of the first Baltic International Summer School 2015 at HafenCity University Hamburg

Abstract

The professional reality is interdisciplinary!

When reviving neighborhoods, what are successful strategies for urban interventions? How do we engage the locals? What role plays art in urban regeneration processes and how exactly can focusing on perception bring fresh planning ideas in complex urban environments? Finally, how can the biggest assets of the eastern districts in Hamburg: HafenCity, Hammerbrook and Rothenburgsort – the waterlines and recreational green zones – be valued and further developed at the same time? These and other questions were analyzed by more than 60 students representing various disciplines of built environment and working together in international and interdisciplinary mixed project groups within the first Baltic International Summer School (B.I.S.S.) “think the link”. The B.I.S.S. launched by the HafenCity University Hamburg together with six international partner universities from the Baltic Sea region aims to develop, test and implement new ways of interdisciplinary teaching, learning and designing as well as searches for ties and correlations between experiences, cultures, cities and people. With the topic 2015 “at – over – on the water”, the choice was taken for the area east of Hamburg’s city center, in particular around the infrastructural joint the Elbe Bridges.

This publication serves as a source book for fresh and unconventional urban development and intervention in harbor cites as well as brings inspiration for successful interdisciplinary working, teaching and learning. On top of that it gives a full documentation of the B.I.S.S. and expert comments on the 15 interdisciplinary projects that were designed during the ten-day workshop in Hamburg in 2015.