A Sustainable Urban District for Flensburg

Its waterfront location and proximity to Flensburg’s city centre make Hafen-Ost a prime location. When the commercial harbour was relocated to a different site, this opened up a new opportunity for urban development.

Hafen-Ost will become a multi-use, sustainability-oriented urban area based on eight guidelines for developing a sustainable urban district. Cityförster, Urban Catalyst and R+T Verkehrsplanung GmbH have developed an urban framework plan, which provides an insight into what this new district could look like. Together with Gehl Architects, we organised the cooperative participation process for the framework planning. This involved taking account of the diverse interests and needs associated with the area.

As a first step towards change at Hafen-Ost, we created a participatory spatial intervention on site at Harniskaispitze. We held a construction workshop in cooperation with Stadtkontraste; young people from Flensburg were invited to create a new communal space with seating elements, an exhibition area and sculptures: the Zukunftsanker (Future Anchor). In keeping with the idea of sustainability, we primarily reused donated materials and discarded objects found on site: boat fenders, wooden pallets, two kayaks, a dinghy, water canisters and air vents from an old silo.

The cooperative process involved stakeholder workshops and public events. We brought together local property owners and tenants, future site users, community associations and representatives from Flensburg city administration with sustainability experts from the University of Flensburg in three workshops. They were able to contribute their knowledge and ideas using creative methods such as Lego Serious Play.

Between 150 and 200 local people accepted the invitation to participate in the planning process at two public events. The first event was held online due to pandemic-related restrictions. We used Mentimeter, a real-time survey tool, to enable everyone to participate and have their say. In addition, small group discussions took place online. The results were documented and shared on a digital whiteboard. The second event took place outdoors at Hafen-Ost in June 2022. Participants had the opportunity to give feedback and voice their criticisms and praise in the market place and in a plenary session.

The process was supported by a range of public relations activities: posters and notice boards at the Zukunftsanker, press coverage, advertising on buses, as well as online information via newsletters and the Flensburg city and development agency websites. In addition, local residents were kept up to date via Instagram and Facebook.

Based on the results of the workshops, the planning team developed three different scenarios; this was followed by a synthesis scenario, which served as the basis for the draft framework plan. The draft was then revised following the stakeholder participation events and consultation with local people. The framework plan is due to be approved by the city administration in 2023. It will provide the basis for redeveloping Hafen-Ost. A presentation and exhibition for the public are also planned.