Dr. Florian Wiedmann
Dr Wiedmann is specialized in investigating urbanism and housing from an international and interdisciplinary perspective who has been working in research, consulting, and teaching since 2006. His research frameworks and methodologies follow an integrated approach and are rooted in space production theories set in juxtaposition to a contemporary understanding of sustainable urbanism. His involvement in interdisciplinary research projects and courses at eight universities in Germany, the UK, and the Middle East made it possible for him to gain in-depth experience in investigating the complex relationship between people and places on an international scale. The main focus of his research can be found in exploring integrated ways to investigate current urban morphologies (e. g. housing typologies) and their transformations as the result of newly emerging spatial practices, via methods such as Space Syntax, mapping surveys, and strategic observations or interviews (e. g. focus groups).
Favourite Quote
“Nothing disappears completely … In space, what came earlier continues to underpin what follows … Pre-existing space underpins not only durable spatial arrangements, but also representational spaces and their attendant imagery and mythic narratives.” ― Henri Lefebvre, The Production of Space
Book/Author suggestion
Production of Space (Henri Lefebvre): A timeless classic to understand our human condition and the spaces we produce.
Abstract
In many cities worldwide, downtown areas are facing various challenges including the increasing deterioration of existing building stock, infrastructural concerns, a decline of commercial activities, and high built densities with a lack of open spaces and problematic traffic conditions. In combination with high land prices, these urban environments are often not perceived as attractive options for new investments into a more diversified housing supply attracting families with various income backgrounds. Sustainable social housing, however, requires mixed neighborhoods to create resilient communities via everyday interactions, improved infrastructure, and local economic development. In this contribution, a new approach to urban regeneration will be shared to discuss key strategies to accommodate integrated and diversified urban communities by restoring valuable building substance, by identifying open and shared public spaces to connect places, and by enabling new opportunity sites in balance with existing infrastructure and townscapes. The introduced cases will integrate recent studies in Nottingham, UK and Doha, Qatar. The main objective of the approach discussed is to enable a new form of district management via a combination of traditional zoning and placemaking strategies via more concrete and punctual interventions to enable new communications and collaborations between stakeholders.