Design for People – Städte als urbane Landschaft

Climate change plays an increasingly significant role in politics and society—and particularly in urban planning. In the future, the focus will be on bringing nature and humanity into harmony even within the urban environment—integrating construction with the cultivation of green spaces. Prof. Andreas Kipar—a landscape architect, urban planner, and architect—is a founding partner of the international landscape architecture firm LAND; his work addresses both global challenges and local issues.

For 35 years, he has advised cities on adopting a new, nature-based approach to the built environment. Since 2009, he has served as a Visiting Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, where he teaches Landscape Architecture and Public Space Design; since 2023, he has also been an expert member of the World Economic Forum’s Taskforce for Nature-Positive Cities.

During his lecture, he will discuss the green transformation of the city of Milan over the past 20 years, drawing parallels with the city of Frankfurt—where, alongside several urban development projects in the city center during the 1990s, he played an active role in the Frankfurt Green Belt project. His objective is clear: cities require more green spaces—greener squares, roof gardens, and vegetated facades—to foster a better climate; they need so-called "green lungs" to provide cooling relief. Furthermore, they need rain gardens—spaces designed to absorb and channel away water during heavy downpours—to provide protection against flooding.

Programme

18:30 | Doors Open

19:00 | Welcome Address

Peter Cachola Schmal / Director, German Architecture Museum (Deutsches Architekturmuseum)

19:05 | Introduction

Dr. Caroline Lüderssen / Chairwoman, German-Italian Association (Deutsch-Italienische Vereinigung e.V.)

Jens Jakob Happ / Architect & Urban Planner, Frankfurt am Main / Deputy Spokesperson of the Board, Urban Future Forum Foundation (Stiftung urban future forum e.V.) V.

19:25 Keynote Presentation

Prof. Andreas Kipar / Landscape Architect and Urban Planner / CEO, LAND Srl, Milan

19:55 Discussion

Carolina Romahn / Managing Director, World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026

Hans-Georg Dannert / Head of Climate Office, Frankfurt

Prof. Andreas Kipar

Jens Jakob Happ

20:25 Open Exchange with Guests

20:40 Closing Remarks

Jens Jakob Happ

20:45 Get-together