Reclaiming public spaces within metropolitan areas
International conference
Madaba, Jordan, November 2017
Organization: German Jordanian University, TU Dortmund University
As part of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funded project initiative between TU Dortmund University and the German Jordanian University (GJU) in Amman: Intercultural Dialogue towards reclaiming Public Space within Metropolitan Areas, the final conference of the project took place from 22-24 November 2017.
The three-year research project dealt with the role of public space in urban development, which was conceptualised in terms of integration with a special focus on industrial areas, renaturalisation of neglected ecological spaces and the integration of disadvantaged social groups and refugees from Syria. Experiences from the Metropole Ruhr in Germany and from the cities of Marka and Sabab in the metropolitan region of Amman in Jordan were gathered and discussed and further developed in an intercultural dialogue.
The results of the research project were presented at the conference in the form of student projects and academic papers that addressed public space. The conference was opened by the German Ambassador Mrs. Birgitta Siefker-Eberle and welcomed 16 countries, 16 universities and 200 participants. It included 24 scientific contributions and motivated an international discussion and knowledge transfer between universities and urban development actors on the topics:
- Urban transformation and the role of public space
- Social and cultural dimensions of cities
- Nature-based planning approaches
