Spatial Research and Spatial Planning

The working group shares the interest in how societal activities re-shape spaces, combined with social, economic, as well as ecological concerns. Therefore, the members pursue ambitiously advancing theory, producing analytical results and, ultimately, assessing and inspiring policy and planning practice.

The working group uses and combines various quantitative and qualitative research methods of empirical social research. Members are engaged in local and national planning community as well as actively contribute to international scientific networks.

Taking a governance perspective, the working group focuses on institutions and actors of policy and planning, civil society and economy – their challenges, conflicts and cooperation in urban and regional development, around housing, mobility and public services. The members analyse urban neighbourhoods, cities and (polycentric) city networks, functional urban regions, cross-border areas, rural areas, centre-periphery relations and their dynamic over time. Thereby, the working group frequently employs comparative research designs between scales and places, from local to European and Transatlantic.