The conference was opened by a lecture from Dr. Gül Tuçaltan (Urban Morphosis Lab), who reflected on the multiple dimensions and challenges of comprehending the resilient city. This was followed by insights from current research on urban resilience by Prof. Dr. Markus Keck (University of Augsburg, Chair of Urban Climate Resilience). Christoph Elsässer (West 8 urban design & landscape architecture b.v., Rotterdam) and Mechthild von Puttkamer (Terrabiota Landscape Architects and Urban Planners GmbH, Starnberg) contributed perspectives from architectural and landscape architectural practice, highlighting their role in shaping resilient urban environments.

The program thus brought together diverse and thought-provoking perspectives from academia and practice, offering valuable insights across disciplines. Students in particular benefited from this broad, transdisciplinary understanding of what it means to design and plan resilient cities today. The subsequent discussion was vivid and engaging, reflecting both the relevance of the topic and the high level of interest among participants.

This exchange created a strong foundation for engaging with the theme of this year’s competition: Negotiating Water, Climate, and Urban Life Along the Vishwamitri River in India (PDF file) (opens in new tab). It provided an inspiring starting point for students to further explore the topic and develop creative, context-sensitive design solutions.