Problem Description

The IDEAL PLAZA project is an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) focusing on the development and enhancement of public spaces in Cologne. This project addresses the need for inclusive, sustainable third places that foster community interaction in urban neighbourhoods. Students will tackle real challenges in Colognes Liebig Quarter, working with local stakeholders to propose new uses for public spaces, underused buildings, and community hubs, promoting social belonging and local sustainability.

Project Definition

Students will work in national and international teams to research, design, and develop proposals for three real-life tasks: creating an Ideal Plaza as a shared public space, developing a sustainable plan for Klug e.V. community activities with limited resources, and re-inventing a local church as an inclusive community hub. Activities include theoretical research, stakeholder engagement, interdisciplinary design workshops, and final presentations. Deliverables are research reports, design concepts, and a coordinated group proposal integrating all tasks. Students from partner institutions will come from diverse fields such as Architecture, Service Design, Engineering, Urban and Social Planning, Management, Environmental Studies, Tourism, and Political Science. Students from Media Informatics can focus on designing digital communication strategies, community engagement platforms, and visual storytelling for the project proposals. Digital Sciences students may contribute through data collection and analysis of neighbourhood usage patterns, sustainability modelling, or developing digital prototypes to support the proposed third places. The project will be conducted as hybrid, including 1 week onsite workshop with international student teams and online lectures via Moodle. Final presentations will be held on 23 January 2026.

Learning Outcome

Participants will gain skills in collaborative, interdisciplinary urban design; stakeholder communication; and sustainable community planning. They will develop an understanding of third places and their role in urban cohesion, learn to combine theory with practice, and enhance their ability to create innovative, feasible solutions for diverse social contexts. Media Informatics students will strengthen their skills in user-centred design, digital media strategies, and public communication in a real-world context. Digital Sciences students will develop competencies in interdisciplinary problem-solving, applying data-driven insights to urban design and sustainability contexts.

Participation Requirements

Media Informatics students: experience with digital design tools, user experience design, or digital communication is beneficial. Digital Sciences students: basic knowledge of data collection, analysis, or sustainability assessment is useful. Openness to co-creation, stakeholder interviews, and adapting digital skills to real urban challenges. Ability to work in international, interdisciplinary teams, with strong communication and collaboration skills. Willingness to conduct field research and engage with local stakeholders

External Partner

In collaboration with local stakeholders in the Liebig Quarter, including Klug e.V. and the parish council for the church project. Partner institutions include: -ISCTE Business School, Portugal -Gustave Eiffel University, France -Iuav University of Venice, Italy -Berner Fachhochschule, Germany

Contact person: Anna Schelling anna.schelling@th-koeln.de, Sylvie Chevrier sylvie.chevrier@univ-eiffel.fr.