LB 685: Studienreise Summerschool Hoyerswerda

International Interdisciplinary Autumn School
Designing for Change: Vegetation, Open Spaces, and Social Innovation in Shrinking Cities

Background:
The focus of this Autumn School is on the shrinking city of Hoyerswerda in Lusatia: the demolition of housing estates is creating new urban open spaces with vegetation, that at the moment seem sadly underused. We will investigate their potential for people and nature and utilise our findings to make suggestions for improvement. The Autumn School aims to rethink open spaces in Hoyerswerda in the context of social, ecological, and technological challenges in interdisciplinary groups, working co-creatively by applying Design Thinking to suggest concepts for future development.

Your task:
You work in small interdisciplinary groups and explore different residential neighborhoods in Hoyerswerda-Neustadt. In doing so, you analyse the residents' lifestyles, examine the interactions between residential development, demolition and open space structures and prototype creative, multispecies-oriented usage concepts. The project combines theory and practice in the sense of research-based learning, promotes intercultural and interdisciplinary skills and relies on close cooperation with the local population and administration. The results will be presented in the form of a public exhibition opened at the end of the Autumn School. Work in interdisciplinary small groups and analyse different residential areas in Hoyerswerda-Neustadt.

Expected results:

• In-depth analysis of existing open spaces and requirements
• Interdisciplinary change concepts developed
• Creative, practical solutions to revitalise the open spaces
• Public presentation of the concepts in an exhibition

Conditions of participation:

• Language: English
• Accommodation: Accommodation in Hoyerswerda will be catered for. All Students will be allocated to shared flats by gender.
• Mobility: Arrival and departure at your own expense. Bicycles are available on site.
• Motivation Letter: As places for participation in the autumn school are limited, please submit a one-page letter of motivation with your contact details to nora.huxmann@tu-dresden.de

Timing & Milestones:

• 15. Mai, 19. June, 26. June 2025: Preparatory meeting in Dresden (IÖR)
• 27. September 2025: Travelling to Hoyerswerda
• 28. September 2025: Kick-off Autumn School
• 2. Oktober 2025: Setting up the exhibition
• 3. Oktober 2025: Public exhibition, press conference and closing event