Democratic Design – Space(s) for Democracy

Aedes Berlin

A Lab Talk within the frame of the Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance in collaboration with the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS, Hamburg

Aedes

Our democracy is under pressure. Many have lost faith in social engagement, withdrawing into protest or disillusionment. Others seek greater participation, but are denied equal access. As societal divisions deepen, so does the urgency to foster common ground, encourage transdisciplinary thinking and put people first.Dialogue and exchange are essential to democratic life. They cultivate openness to differing views and the ability to compromise. Democracy needs tools that spark interest, inspire commitment and enable inclusive participation. It also needs well-designed urban and architectural spaces for encounter, conversation and collaboration.Spatial planning holds untapped potential as a driver of democratic engagement. It can reach those excluded from political discourse, civic life and the shaping of public space. Architecture and urban design can offer accessible entry points into vital conversations about democracy and the future of our shared environment.This Lab Talk brings design and governance together to explore tools for meaningful collaboration and communication: How can the largest possible group of people jointly develop optimistic visions for the future? What spaces of negotiation does democracy need? What new formats can foster trust, collaboration and compromise? PROGRAMMEWelcomeHans-Jürgen Commerell, Partner, Aedes, BerlinSascha Suhrke, Director, Head of Politics and Society, <a href="https://www.zeit-stiftung.de/en/" title="https://www.zeit-stiftung.de/en/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS</a>, HamburgPresentations and DiscussionJames MacDonald-Nelson, Cities Programme Lead, <a href="https://www.demnext.org/" title="https://www.demnext.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Democracy Next</a>, BerlinAmelie Klein, Curator/Writer/Critic, <a href="https://designanddemocracy.org/" title="https://designanddemocracy.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Design &amp; Democracy</a>, ViennaModerator: Eberhard Sandschneider, Partner at<a href="https://berlinglobaladvisors.com/" title="https://berlinglobaladvisors.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Berlin Global Advisors</a>, former Professor for Chinese Politics and International Relations at Otto-Suhr-Institute, FU Berlin ABOUT DEMOCRATIC DESIGNDemocratic Design is one of <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/themesoverview/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/themesoverview/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">sixteen key themes</a> shaping the curatorial work at Aedes, framing the discourse on the built environment within the context of urgent societal and planetary challenges. This September, Aedes will launch a major new programme <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/democratic-design/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/democratic-design/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Democratic Design – Space for Cooperation, Collaboration and Compromise</a> – for which this Lab Talk serves as a teaser.The programme will include an exhibition, a Lab Talk series and a catalogue. Together, they will explore how architecture and planning can evolve into collaborative, transdisciplinary spatial practices that strengthen democratic engagement. The ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and the two presenters of this Lab Talk will also be part of the project.Stay tuned: <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/democratic-design/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/democratic-design/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">aedesmetrolab.de/democratic-design</a> and on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aedesberlin" title="https://www.instagram.com/aedesberlin" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@aedesberlin</a> ABOUT BUCERIUS SUMMER SCHOOLThe <a href="https://www.bucerius-summer-school.de/" title="https://www.bucerius-summer-school.de/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bucerius Summer School</a> on Global Governance, conducted by the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS in cooperation with the Karl Schlecht Stiftung, is an annual 10-day summer seminar with the aim to foster leadership qualities among young international professionals by opening a cross-border and transdisciplinary dialogue on current questions of global relevance and providing a platform, where leaders of tomorrow jointly discuss and develop ideas.Since 2016, Aedes has been regularly invited to curate one-day programmes within the frame of the Summer School that combine inspiring input lectures by international experts with hands-on workshops, where the participants collectively tackle current issues by translating political measures into spatial planning in creative and unconventional ways. Previous subjects include: <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/democratic-design-collaboration-as-a-way-out-of-the-crisis/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/democratic-design-collaboration-as-a-way-out-of-the-crisis/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">DEMOCRATIC DESIGN, Collaboration as a Way Out of the Crisis (2024)</a>, <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/no-apocalypse-now/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/no-apocalypse-now/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">No Apocalypse Now! Water as Leverage – design driven catalyst for climate action (2022), </a><a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/art-architecture-international-politics-transit-spaces/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/art-architecture-international-politics-transit-spaces/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Art. Architecture. International Politics: Transit Spaces (2019), </a><a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/science-fiction-international-politics-visible-and-invisible-borders/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/science-fiction-international-politics-visible-and-invisible-borders/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Science. Fiction. International Politics: Visible and Invisible Borders (2018), </a><a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/the-perfect-city-block-how-do-we-want-to-live-together-in-the-future/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/the-perfect-city-block-how-do-we-want-to-live-together-in-the-future/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Perfect City Block: How do we want to live together (in the future)? (2017)</a> and <a href="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/urban-insecurities-science-fiction-international-politics/" title="https://aedesmetrolab.de/portfolio/urban-insecurities-science-fiction-international-politics/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Urban (in)securities: Science. Fiction. International Politics (2016).</a> We thank the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and Sascha Suhrke for the collaboration.

Democratic Design – Space(s) for Democracy

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