Further results of the project (FutureCentres)

Student Projects

In supervised academic projects conducted over the course of a semester (approximately 6 months), small working groups (around 8–10 students) tackled complex tasks, such as developing and testing e-learning ideas. The aim was to establish specific foundations in order to implement e-learning concepts aligned with the annual thematic focus areas (for example: sustainable urban center development, planning systems and cultures, best-practice examples, and options for action). The e-learning ideas developed can be used at both LUH and AUTH. The following projects were carried out:

• Master’s Project “Sustainable centers as a challenge? A Comparison of the Inner City Development in Thessaloniki (Greece) and Hanover (Germany)”, Summer Semester 2023.
  The goal of the project was to conduct a comparative analysis of sustainable inner-city development in terms of mobility, urban economy, and social activities in the cities of Thessaloniki and Hanover. Students created an audio guide for each city, which is freely accessible via the free izi.TRAVEL website/app: Hannover & Thessaloniki
• Master’s Project “Understanding Planning Cultures in a Nutshell: A Comparison between Greece and Germany”, Summer Semester 2024.
  Students investigated how planning cultures in the cities of Hanover and Thessaloniki influence selected aspects such as green infrastructure and mobility, and how public participation on these topics is conducted in each city.
• Bachelor's project ‘More than just the centre – new perspectives for Hanover's city centre’ in the summer semester of 2025. Against the backdrop of changing city centres, students developed new perspectives for Hanover's city centre. The focus was on how the city centre can be made more climate-resilient, healthier, more diverse and more sustainable in the future.

Summer Schools

The Summer Schools were held alternately each year in Thessaloniki (2023 & 2025) and Hanover (2024). They focused on analyzing the two cities and regions, their different planning systems and cultures, and on developing solution-oriented approaches (e.g., smart city concepts, 100 Resilient Cities Thessaloniki, etc.). The aim was to foster exchange among participants in interdisciplinary teams. The program included themed excursions, interdisciplinary workshops, group work, and final presentations. A shared evening meal concluded each Summer School and provided an opportunity for networking beyond the one-week exchange. The following Summer Schools were held:

• Summer School 2023 “The Future of Central Urban Areas of Thessaloniki – A Sustainable Planning Perspective Approach”, Thessaloniki.
  The goal was to develop a comprehensive perspective on a central district of the city—specifically, the study area Vardaris-Xirokrini in the northeast of Thessaloniki’s inner city—and to develop solutions to current challenges.
• Summer School 2024 “Thessaloniki as Circular City?! – Planning for Sustainable, Social, and Inclusive Communities”, Thessaloniki.
  The goal was to explore the topic of Circular Cities in Thessaloniki on various levels and from multiple perspectives, aiming to create an integrated perspective for addressing current challenges. The working groups focused on four key themes: „Space: Built environment and urban development“, „Links: Mobility, economy, and energy“, „Communities: Society, culture, and participation“, as well as „Recycling: Waste management, food, and nutrition“.
• Summer School 2025 ‘Thinking and planning with your hands – Innovative co-creative approaches to communication and problem-solving in urban planning’ in Hanover. The Summer School focused on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method (LSP). The aim was to learn about new approaches to communication, creativity and problem solving and to test how this method can be used to make urban development and landscape planning issues visible and open to discussion. Certified LSP trainer Michael Barsakidis introduced the students to the method and accompanied them throughout the week.

Excursions
The one-week excursions took place annually in both Thessaloniki and Hanover. During these excursions, urban and regional planning projects were visited (for example, historic city centers, start-ups and pop-up stores, urban planning departments), and thematic tours on the annual focus topics were organized (e.g., real-world laboratories, vacancy management projects). The following excursions were carried out:

• Excursion 2023 to Thessaloniki
  “Urban and regional development in Thessaloniki (Greece) and the future of the (inner) city centre of Thessaloniki.”
  The excursion offered insights into Thessaloniki's urban development, history, and future. It included city tours, lectures on the Greek planning system, a visit to the metro depot, and meetings with urban planners.
• Excursion 2023 to Hanover
  This excursion took students from AUTh to Hanover, Hamburg, and Berlin. In Hanover, they gained insights into spatial planning and urban development through lectures and guided tours. In Hamburg, the focus was on sustainable urban planning, particularly in HafenCity. The visit to Berlin included tours of architectural and urban development projects.
• Excursion 2024 to Thessaloniki
  “Urban and regional development Thessaloniki (Greece).”
  The one-week excursion focused on the urban and regional development of the city. Together with local stakeholders, including representatives from the city administration, civil society, and academia, the Greek planning system and the city's future development were discussed. Additionally, three small and medium-sized towns (Edessa, Ptolemaida, and Veria) were visited.
• Excursion 2024 to Hanover and Hamburg
  The excursion provided insights into architecture and urban design in Germany. In Hamburg, the group visited historic neighborhoods and significant buildings, and examined how urban spaces are adapted to ecological and social requirements. In Hanover, participants gained knowledge about spatial planning, sustainable housing concepts, and the role of the university through lectures and city tours.
• Excursion to Thessaloniki in 2025. During the excursion, participants got to know Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Municipality of Thessaloniki. They also visited the Heinrich Böll Foundation, InCommon and the newly developed metro. Furthermore, they took a trip to the cities of Larissa and Thermi. Okay, perfect, good luck with your continued search.

Interactive Teaching Formats

As part of the DAAD university partnership, the following interactive teaching formats were implemented:

• One-day design sprint 2023: “Inner-city development in Hanover”
  Students were tasked with examining developments in Hanover’s city center, which is considered a cultural and infrastructural hub, for example, using mapping and photo safaris. Students could choose different analytical focuses, such as the historical development of Hanover’s center, retail, or housing.
• One-week design sprint 2024: “Planning systems in Greece and Germany”
  The focus was on comparing the planning systems in Greece and Germany. Students analyzed the planning systems in both countries at the national, (federal) state, regional, and local levels.
• One-week design sprint 2025: “Your Sustainable City”
  By promoting sustainable urbanization, SDG 11 aims to ensure that cities and communities can support both people and the planet in a rapidly changing world. The aim of this charrette was to create a concise and informative city pitch that comprehensively introduces a selected case city.

Research Stays in Thessaloniki and Hanover

The mutual one-week research stays were used to design and prepare summer schools, excursions, publications, and student projects. During the stays, thematic analyses and results were also deepened. Mutual presentations and inputs on key topics (e.g., digitalization in regions, urban development concepts) by scholars from AUTH and LUH as well as local experts and practitioners enriched the dialogue. Additionally, excursions to case studies were carried out (e.g., city administrations, real-world laboratories). The stays were also used to conduct empirical studies (such as surveys or interviews).

Workshops in Thessaloniki and Hanover

One-week workshops were held annually in Greece and Germany. These workshops served to consolidate the findings and to foster further collaboration by identifying potential areas for continued cooperation.

The results of the various activities were also presented at conferences and symposia. These included, for example:

• KNOWember at Aufhof on November 9, 2023, in Hanover (Germany), with the presentation: “Changing City Centers: Inner-City Development in Thessaloniki (Greece) and Hanover (Germany) – An Overview”
• 36th AESOP Annual Congress 2024, “GAME CHANGER? Planning for just and sustainable urban regions,” July 8–12, 2024, in Paris (France), with poster presentation: “Urban Transformation through Public Participation. A Comparative Study of Thessaloniki (Greece) and Hanover (Germany)”
• Regional Studies Association Annual Conference 2024 #RSA24, “Global Challenges, Regional Collaboration and the Role of Places,” June 11–14, 2024, in Florence (Italy), with presentation: “Urban Transformation through Public Participation. A Comparative Study of Thessaloniki (Greece) and Hanover (Germany)”
• International Conference “Urban Speculations: Cities, Technologies, Futures”, February 4–6, 2025, in Lüneburg (Germany), with presentation: “From consumption to collaboration? A closer look at the interim use project Aufhof in Hanover’s city centre”
• 2025 RSA Annual Conference – Navigating Regional Transformation, May 6–9, 2025, in Porto (Portugal), with presentation: “From consumption to collaboration? A closer look at the interim use project Aufhof in Hanover’s city centre”
• 7th AESOP Annual Congress 2025, “Planning as a Transformative Action in an Age of Planetary Crisis,” with presentation: “The 15-minute city center: A comparative analysis of the cities of Thessaloniki and Hanover”