Forum II – Trends and Dynamics
Darmstadt’s profile is based on several forward-looking leading industries. These result from its long tradition as a science and technology hub, which is also reflected in the city’s morphology. The urban space is currently divided into two parts: While workplaces are concentrated in the west, residential use characterizes a north-south axis to the east. Identifiers and distinctive features, like Darmstadt’s treasures, are mainly located in residential quarters and are rarely found in working urban spaces. Given the continuous increase in the number of jobs, the issue of providing an available and diverse range of spaces is a pressing one. Developments in the outskirts are not an option, but the existing stock offers spatial and functional potentials, which were discussed with citizens in the second forum.

Forum III – Images of the future and scenarios
New future scenarios for Darmstadt are based on the guiding idea of overcoming functional and spatial divisions. “Star City”, “Ring City” and “Regional City” indicate different paths of development for a productive city. In the third citizens’ forum, the future visions and scenarios for Darmstadt 2030+ were discussed. The “star city” focuses on increasing urban density and urban qualities in existing buildings. The focus of spatial development lies in new planning, structural and/or functional reorganization, or urban space enhancement along selected development corridors. The “Ring City” translates the question of sustainable mobility into the development of a ring of impulse areas (“hubs”). These hubs serve as mobility nodes and starting or focal points for urban and functional neighbourhood developments. The “Regional City” embeds the overall city development in the context of the economically strong region by focusing on priority areas for development. In the discourse, the future image of the “Ring City” emerged as the favorite of the attending citizens. The concept of a spatial development ring with mobility links received the most support.

Forum IV – Strategies and key areas
At the concluding forum in September 2018, the results of the cooperative work phase were presented. The focus of the Master Plan Process Darmstadt 2030+ was on elaborating “Strategies and Key Areas.” In a walk-in model, we presented the core propositions of the masterplan for the ” City of Science and Work” as well as the resulting strategies and key areas. The synthesis of the results of the other teams created a multidimensional and colourful vision of Darmstadt’s future. The accessible model vividly illustrated the individual topics, synergies and complexity of the process and was well received by the citizens present. A special youth participation format enabled pupils to give their feedback and exchange ideas with the planning teams. In the final step, Urban Catalyst Berlin will consolidate the collected results of the teams and participation processes into an overarching master plan.