Brave City, Brave Decisions

Groningen's development into a sustainable, resilient and livable city is exemplary and instructive in many ways. How did this succeed? Bold decisions - according to the exhibition's thesis - were a key factor for success. The exhibition documents the bold steps Groningen has taken. Direct comparisons, especially cross-border ones, are not possible. Nevertheless, it is worth looking beyond the box for cities such as Mainz, Koblenz, Trier, Kaiserslautern or Ludwigshafen, because the planning and building culture that underlies Groningen's present is promising and raises questions: How can growing cities meet the challenges of sustainable urban development in order to create a livable and integrative environment? What can we base our approach on in order to transform constraints and restrictions into opportunities for the future? Do courage, tolerance of mistakes and a willingness to experiment in urban development, planning and design lead to a livable city? We would like to discuss these connections at the opening of the exhibition.

Opening: March 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
Welcome: Kristina Oldenburg (member of the board of the Chamber of Architects of Rhineland-Palatinate)
Lectures: Matthias Rottmann (architect, partner De Zwarte Hond, Cologne), Prof. i.V.Torsten Becker (urban planner BDA, tobestadt, representative for design and urban development, TU Darmstadt), Marianne Grosse (head of the building department of the state capital Mainz)