Abstract:

Urbanization and development of large cities has generated prosperity, raised living standards and reduced poverty. Design studios in Architecture Schools have therefore focused on how to deal with urban growth while simultaneously confront social equity, and sustainability without degrading the ecosystems on which life depends

In the past decades however many cities and regions in old industrialized rust belts, have had to face the challenges of long-term demographic and economic decline. While in the USA, this phenomenon has often related to postindustrial transformations in other countries like Germany for example, the causes are related to changing demographics with declining birth rates and the effects of the German reunification.

Many architectural educators believe that it is inappropriate to focus on declining urban contexts as they regard it of little import to future architects who are being trained in the art and science of building design. However, cities are struggling to survive in many countries around the world and the social economic and physical adjustment they go through highlight recycling, refurbishment, demolition and conservation as a creative act that contain important lessons for growing not just shrinking cities.

This paper will present the results of an experimental Graduate studio that designed buildings and urban places in the shrinking city of Dessau, Germany, once a flourishing manufacturing center, now facing steep economic decline, to argue that architecture studios need to prepare students not just to confront problems in developing contexts but also to work in an environment where economic growth is no longer the norm.

Keywords:

Shrinking cities, urban design, architecture, recycling, refurbishment, demolition, conservation, Dessau Germany.