German–US-American Exchange on Density, Diversity, and Housing for All
International peer exchange on innovative approaches to redensification, mixed-use, and affordable housing in German and American cities
Region
Europe and Northern America
Date
2021-2024
Service
Studies, Research, and Capacity Building
Project Details
Location
- Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
- Seattle, St. Louis, Atlanta (United States)
Type
- Consultancy
Team
Client
- The Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
Partners
- Stefan Heinig
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- German Marshall Fund (GMF)
In recent decades, large cities have faced increasing pressure. Challenges like climate change, demographic shifts, rising costs of living, housing shortages, and urban sprawl significantly impact future development and vitality of cities in both Germany and the United States. Nevertheless, new perspectives continue to surface through international exchanges that involve and strengthen political decision-makers, civil society sectors, and other interest groups.
TSPA is a research partner in the German-American Cities Network, part of the broader Dialogues for Urban Change (D4UC), commissioned by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) and coordinated by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB).
This network focuses on how cities can approach density, mixed-use, and affordable housing in innovative and context-sensitive ways. Drawing from peer-to-peer learning between cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Atlanta, Seattle, and St. Louis, this project explores how diverse planning cultures respond to shared urban challenges.
The project was carried out on behalf of the BBSR and that all rights are held by the BBSR.
Scope and Objective
This transatlantic exchange centres on practical knowledge transfer through joint research and applied learning. Instead of conventional study tours or static knowledge-sharing formats, the D4UC project uses a practice-based, peer-learning model to generate dynamic context-specific insights.
Each participating city developed pilot programs around topics such as urban re-densification, zoning reforms, or affordable housing supply. TSPA supports this network with applied research that captures emerging lessons, translating them across systems and facilitating collaborative reflection among urban planners.
The overarching goal here is to inform more adaptable, inclusive planning frameworks by learning from real-world innovations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Methodology
TSPA’s research approach is practice-based and qualitative. The focus is not on producing representative findings, but rather on uncovering the mechanisms, challenges, and opportunities of densification and mixed-use in distinct municipal contexts.
Our approach to answering the research question was structured into three phases:
Context Analysis: Created a comparative review of planning instruments in German and U.S. systems, alongside the development of city-specific profiles and case study documentation. This phase established a shared knowledge base across all participating cities.
Process Analysis: This stage facilitated dialogue across regular network meetings, roundtable discussions, and delegation visits. Here, TSPA acted as both a listener and moderator, adjusting our research based on evolving conversations and city-specific priorities.
Results Analysis: This phase was the accumulation of the two previous stages, resulting in the synthesisation of the exchange into a practical toolbox that offers actionable recommendations and strategy options for cities tackling similar challenges. The toolbox supports local implementation while encouraging experimentation and integrated planning.
Are Density and Mixed-Use Important?
The network’s initial focus on density and mixed-use eventually evolved to include affordable housing, as participating cities, especially in the U.S., repeatedly emphasized its importance and urgency.
Density enables sustainable mobility, resource efficiency, and compact urban growth.
Mixed-use development enhances daily life by integrating living, working, and leisure nearby.
Affordable housing is the key to achieving meaningful density and functional mixed-use requires both an equitable and accessible housing supply.
Together, these three elements form the backbone of liveable, resilient urban neighbourhoods.
Takeaways and Outlook
One major lesson from this exchange is the value of practical communication tools, such as the toolbox from the results analysis phase, as a way to translate urban planning insights into context-sensitive action.
Throughout this process, city participants repeatedly emphasised the value of integrated development concepts, as these can help cities manage complexity while aligning diverse local interests.
By connecting cities through open dialogue and co-created strategies, the D4UC network enables a rare form of reciprocal, practice-oriented learning, one that reaches beyond systems and toward a shared language of urban sustainability.
Affordable Housing: Restoration vs. New Construction?
Experimentation and Temporary Uses
Mediation of Neighbourhood and City Interests
Action Plans With Long and Short Term Projects
Housing and Placemaking
Housing Governance Models
