Our goal

The ARL wants to shape sustainable spatial development and social prospects for the future. That is why we facilitate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on current spatial issues. We aim to identify action- and solution-oriented ways and means of making cities, rural areas and regions liveable and crisis-proof for all people, while protecting the diversity of nature and the landscape and preserving them for future generations.

Who we are

The ARL works at the interface between science, planning practice and politics. Its research and work covers issues of spatial development and spatial planning – fields in which many key social challenges are concentrated in a concrete and conflictual manner. Addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary cooperation and reflective exchange between scientific analysis and planning and political practice.

The Academy

This platform

ARL-international.com is your gateway to spatial development and planning from a global perspective. It serves as the ARL's platform for international collaboration, transdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange on pressing spatial challenges.

Here, you’ll find opportunities to connect with experts from academia and practice. This website is dedicated to fostering an international dialogue and strengthening cross-border cooperation in spatial development.

Latest News

11/09/2026

Aerial city view with river and bridges, partly overlaid by a red diagonal shape. White text on the overlay reads “Summer School 2026”.

New Perspectives on Urban Infrastructures

Reflections on the ARL Summer School 2026

From 8 to 10 July 2026, twelve doctoral researchers from across the globe gathered at the University of Amsterdam for the infrastructure-focused edition of the ARL Summer School.

07/09/2026

Special Issue “Spatial Transformation from a Planning Perspective” published

Participants in the ARL International Summer School have published their findings in a special issue of the European Journal of Spatial Development

07/09/2026

PINO description for AlpPlan website

In June of 2026, the new call for the Interreg Alpine Space projects announced support for the project “PINO – Planning Instruments for Nature-based Solutions” for the next three years (until 05/2029).

19/08/2026

A clothesline on a fallow field in the foreground. In the background is an industrial area, and even further in the background, a city can be seen.

Last chance to attend the ARL Congress 2026 "European Regional Policy in Times of Transition"

The registration deadline has been extended to 6 September.

14/08/2026

Resilient Spatial Structures

ARL position paper shows how spatial planning and development can strengthen state and alliance defence, as well as civil protection.

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Expert Circle

One of the ARL’s unique features is its large network of highly qualified experts. We are now making this network even more international and even more visible by launching our Expert Circle. Want to know who the experts are on certain topics? Who is doing research where and on what issues? Which planning professionals have valuable experience in which areas?

The platform enables professionals in our network to be filtered by topic, profession, country and regional expertise. Find interesting people you would like to work and exchange ideas with.

It’s very easy, try it out!