To mark the launch of ARL’s interactive knowledge and communication platform, the ARL invited entries to a non-commercial photo competition from March to July 2021, asking participants to reflect on how spaces change over time. We were delighted with how multifaceted the entries were, the range of perspectives represented, and the approaches taken to visualising criticism, paradoxes and contradictions.

In view of the growing significance of cross-border and international cooperation, the ARL seeks on one hand to share its findings more internationally. Watch our little welcome clip!

One of the results of the cooperation of the working group are the first videos in the video series "Statements on Planning". 

Intending to enforce further thematic discussion and narrow down the scope of the joint work, the group met in Berlin, Germany, on 23-25.08.2021.

In the context of the “AlpPlan” alpine spatial planning network, the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL), the Interreg Alpine Space project “OpenSpaceAlps”, and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy; Department of Regional Planning (StMWi) have joint forces in order to host a strategic online workshop on 18th May 2021.

The first joint meeting of the working group was held on March 3-4, 2021.

These key issues and others were widely brainstormed by the whole group during the first online meeting [in January 2021].

On 29th October 2020, 69 representatives from spatial planning practice and research in different alpine countries participated in an online meeting, which was supposed to mark the kick-off of the “AlpPlan” alpine spatial planning network.

Planning theories are a prerequisite for intentional action in planning practice and serve the profession's understanding of itself.

Systems of spatial planning and territorial governance in Europe are well established and maintained. There is a huge amount of energy expended on ‘planning’ as demonstrated by the multiple types of plans at all levels. These tools are used to pursue a common objective to steer spatial development to achieve a wide range of economic, environmental and social objectives. They increasingly engage with citizens in that task. ‘Plans’ are usually multifunctional, dealing with a combination of visionary, strategic, policy and regulation tasks.  

The final report is online.

With two final conferences, the ARL transferred the knowledge gained during the work process and disseminated the results to more than 200 participants. 

Building on the discussions of the working group "Border Futures", the volume "Border Futures - Zukunft Grenze - Avenir Frontière. Future viability of cross-border cooperation" emerged.