Urban Geographies

Under the influence of progressing globalization, cities and metropolitan regions are undergoing profound changes. These changes occur both in terms of their form and size as well as shifts in the social, political, cultural and economic structures and processes that shape them. This is critical within Europe, as metropolitan regions are considered innovation centers and drivers of economic development.

In human geography at the University of Freiburg, a number of researchers from different working groups focus on current developments in cities and metropolitan areas. Within this field, particular attention is given to the development of cities and urban areas through everyday practices. Current urban geography research projects for example emphasize the importance of metropolitan regions as innovation centers and drivers of economic development, aspects of spatial perception as well as spatial planning, control, space-related conflicts and social participation in spatial design processes. Research foci surround current challenges with regard to sustainable urban development, which are analyzed through the synthesis of varied and practice-oriented approaches concerned with social transitions in the city, urban-rural transformations, and urban adaptation to climate change.

Projects related to Urban Geographies

Municipal Transformative Communities for Local Economies Beyond Growth (MUTUAL)
Project Manager
Schmid B (Projektleitung), Chardon C (Team)
Start/End of Project
01.01.2024 until 31.12.2026
Description
The MUTUAL project explores how municipalities can develop pathways to move beyond growth as an objective and institutionalized principle. We are conducting research in two municipalities—Grenoble in France and Freiburg in Germany—to investigate strategies for fostering growth autonomy and resilience in real-world settings.MUTUAL is a three-year research project funded by the German Research Foundation and based at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography. The project is guided by three research questions: (1) What measures implemented by municipalities potentially decrease the importance of economic growth for local development, and how? (2) What institutional and cultural conditions support or hinder growth autonomy, and how are these conditions navigated, negotiated, and modified by different stakeholders? (3) How can spatial concepts – such as place, territory, and scale – aid in understanding post-growth transformations at the municipal scale? for more information please visit: mutual-project.com
Contact Person
Dr. Benedikt Schmid
Phone: ++49(0)761 203-3566
Email: benedikt.schmid@geographie.uni-freiburg.de