all projects

Public participation in the Südstadt
district of Rostock

Client

Hansestadt Rostock

Year

2024


The Südstadt district of Rostock is one of the most popular residential areas in the city. However, over time, the demands on living, traffic, open space and meeting places have changed. Urban development and residential construction must reconcile the different interests of residents, the city administration and the housing industry, and balance tradition and the future.

Mutual trust, common issues, coordinated criteria, a unifying framework plan and a binding development plan are needed for a consensual future development. The Hanseatic City of Rostock commissioned Prognos to unite the various interests of citizens and experts from the public and private sectors. In the Studio Südstadt Process, an innovative and exemplary participatory process, the future of the Südstadt district was discussed and concrete criteria for its further development were defined. The results are incorporated into the framework plan with which the Hanseatic city is defining the future of the district.

A vision for the southern city centre

The Studio Südstadt participation process defined the framework conditions for the further development of the district. Various development options for Südstadt were identified, discussed and documented. The objectives were:

  • to create a new culture of trust and dialogue between citizens, politicians and administrators,
  • to develop specific criteria for the further development of the southern part of the city, which can be incorporated into a binding framework plan.

Prognos led the participants through three studios, each with a different focus:

  • Studio I – exchanging perspectives: frustration, worries and fears, as well as hopes and desires, need their place. The participants took the opportunity to voice their displeasure and express their wishes for the future of Südstadt (Speakers Corner). After the debate, the discussion returned to a factual level and five topics were identified.
  • Studio II – Discussing perspectives: It was time to get down to business. Over two days, the topics identified in Studio I, such as building concerns, mobility and housing, were discussed in constructive discussions with creative and surprising changes of perspective (multiple-species approach). The aim was to use the mutual understanding that had been built up to formulate, group and prioritise aspects of the topics in a concrete way. The result was a set of consensual solutions for the future development of a livable Südstadt.
  • Studio III – combining perspectives: In the third studio, the perspectives were combined and similarities were highlighted. What is feasible? What should be included in the framework plan? Studio III also produced tangible results: fundamental and coordinated future criteria for the development of the Südstadt framework plan.

Our approach

The aim of the project was to establish a planning basis for the future of the Südstadt district with the involvement of all interest groups in order to prepare a unifying and resilient framework and development plan process. Prognos supported the Hanseatic city in the conception, organisation, preparation and implementation of the participation process.

In order to reconcile the interests of citizens, political representatives and other stakeholders, innovative methods from futurology (multiple species design, design thinking) and mediation were used. Prognos also supported the public relations work surrounding the participation process, created detailed documentation of the studios and prepared the results for the city administration and the subsequent framework planning.

What happens next?

Prognos will continue to support the Studio Südstadt participation process on the way to a concrete framework plan. This includes the conception and realisation of further studios as well as the support of the participation process.

Links and downloads

The final report of the first studio process (PDF, in German)

More information on the website of the Hanseatic City of Rostock (in German)

Appendix to the final report (PDF, in German)

Project team: Christian Schoon, Christina Schenten, Lukas Röbke

Last update: 08.11.2024

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Christina Schenten

Project Manager

View profile

Christian Schoon

Senior Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Extra-high voltage line Ganderkesee – St. Hülfe

2023
| Project

Grid operator TenneT has put an important power line into operation in Lower Saxony. Prognos supported the communication for the project.

How far are the regions on the road to a circular economy?

2025
| Project update

Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities.

Economic potential of the green tech sector in Bavaria

2024
| Project

How powerful is the green tech industry in Bavaria? What is its economic significance? We examined these questions on behalf of the vbw using our envigos model.

Promoting the use of electric buses in local public transport

2024
| Project

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has been funding the e-bus market ramp-up since 2018. Together with our partners, we have been investigating how effective this funding has been.

Mid-term evaluation of the public sector loan facility

ongoing
| Project

The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financing instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and partners are evaluating the instrument.

Support for the Saxony-Anhalt Citizens’ Advisory Board on Structural Change

ongoing
| Project

Prognos supports the citizens’ advisory council in incorporating the perspectives of the population into decision-making processes and advises the responsible staff unit of the State Chancellery.

Resilience and sovereignty of German industry

ongoing
| Project

German industry is dependent on raw materials and preliminary products from abroad. On behalf of the Netzwerk Zukunft der Industrie e. V., Prognos analyses the supply chains and provides recommendations for action.

In dialogue – electricity grid expansion in Germany

2023
| Project

Prognos supports transmission and distribution system operators in the planning and construction communication of the various power line construction projects at the extra-high and high-voltage level.

Digitisation strategy for Brandenburg

2021
| Project

The digital transformation has long been underway in Brandenburg's economy as well. Prognos is developing a strategic framework for action to successfully exploit the potential of digitisation.

City of Cologne Urban Development Strategy - Economy

2024
| Project

In order to secure and sustainably design commercial space in Cologne, Prognos developed a new urban development concept for the City of Cologne in exchange with stakeholders and members of the public.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more