EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
If it wasn’t already apparent, German cities are struggling to cope with the demand for housing
A recent report published by the German Economic Institute (IW) in Cologne has revealed some striking findings, pointing further to the fact that cities in Germany are failing to meet the expectations and the needs of those living there. As we have previously reported, the housing issues in Germany are pushing local governments into uncharted territories in their efforts to curb the problem.
The study has now revealed that the problem is two-fold. On the one hand construction companies are building far too much in sparsely populated rural areas, where there’s not enough people to move into the apartments while at the same time they’re building nowhere near enough in big cities were citizens actually need places to live. For example in Cologne barely 46% of the housing needs of citizens are being met, in Stuttgart the number is 56% while in Munich 67%.
The report drives us to the conclusion that a long-term strategy is needed. As the needs of citizens are not met, prices of apartments rise, which pushes local governments to take further actions. The authors of the study claim that while it might be impossible for construction companies to keep up with the demand for housing, its up to the authorities to figure something out – like repurposing out-of-use buildings and turning them into someplace livable.
Meanwhile smaller municipalities are being swarmed with construction efforts which are in turn driving away people who might want to live there. Who would want their small rural town to be slowly turning into a giant metropolis?
A new long-term strategic approach is needed, spearheaded by a joint effort by local authorities and construction companies and businesses in order to solve a crisis that has been brewing for decades and is unlikely to subside in the near future.
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The island is dead set on doing something about the problem of overtourism
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
An illegal landfill will turn into a parking lot for cars confiscated by the police
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team