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

02/03/2026

Wide landscape view with dry grassland and a clothesline with hanging laundry in the foreground, and industrial silos and conveyor structures in the background. A red diagonal overlay on the right displays the text “ARL Congress 2026”. On the left side it says: "extended call: march 15 2026".

2026 ARL Congress: Deadline for abstracts extended to 15 March

Deadline for abstracts extended to 15 March 2026!
We invite scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to submit abstracts for the ARL Congress 2026, taking place on 1–2 October 2026 in Cologne (Maternushaus).

26/02/2026

New Edition Released: ARL Country Profile Poland

Poland’s spatial planning system has recently undergone significant reforms, particularly affecting municipal planning and land-use decisions. The ARL Country Profile of Poland offers a concise overview of the planning system, recent reforms, multilevel governance, and key challenges such as regional disparities, urban–rural divides, and demographic change.

24/02/2026

Strengthening Exchange and Cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region

The ARL at the Final Conference of the Planners’ Forum Project in Tallinn

The final conference of the Planners’ Forum project, held on 11–12 February 2026 in Tallinn, marked both the conclusion of the project phase and the official launch of the Land-based Planners’ Forum.

13/02/2026

A future for the European patchwork. Cohesion through spatial planning since 1990'

Now published by Campus Verlag!

In times of challenging transformations at all spatial levels, the insights provided in this book are highly relevant.

10/02/2026

Planning the Future for Youth in Europe’s Shrinking Areas

ARL Lunch Talk
19.03.2026, 13:00-14:00 CET, online

The Lunch Talk aims to bring together scholars from different fields of expertise and to reflect on both, the perspectives of shrinking areas and those of young people.

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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!