Resilient Stolberg: Enhancing Urban Flows for Sustainable Recovery

A project by Laura Caroline Barbosa e Silva and Seyedehmehrdokht Jafari Kenari

Integrated Project I

Lecturers: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Christa Reicher

Supervisors: Canan Çelik, Fabio Bayro Kaiser

Winter semester 2023/24

The Integrated Project 1: Adaptation and innovation in Stolberg post 2021 floods

Rapid urban growth and the decreasing availability of natural resources, intensified by the impacts of global warming, pose significant challenges for cities and their structural organization. The need for change was recognized by the European Green Deal (2020), which had several goals, such as a circular economy action plan. The circular model prioritizes reusability and recovery, fostering a shift in attitudes toward materials and the environment itself while involving multiple stakeholders (ICLEI, 2023).

Stolberg, experiencing the repercussions of evolving climate crises, particularly evident in recent flooding events of 2021, requires new ideas that consider the city’s context while aligning with the European circular plan for the future. The conceptual framework is centered around four categories of urban flows: Economic, Mobility, Social, and Environmental. These categories are further subdivided into three distinct action categories within the proposed interventions: Hardware, Software, and Orgware.

The analysis identifies flow zones, guiding interventions to reconnect and better integrate them. The economic flows focus on fostering circular business models, repurposing commercial spaces, and nurturing local entrepreneurship. The mobility flows prioritize pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, improved bike networks, and green transportation options. The social flows aim to create inclusive community spaces, preserve cultural heritage, and foster social interaction. And the environmental flows target flood mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable land management. The project vision for Stolberg is one of resilience, a city where circular principles and urban flows are integrated into everyday life, where infrastructure, action, and governance converge to create a sustainable and adaptable city for the future.