Winter term 2026/2027

M 05 - Rebuilding Under Pressure—Who Plans, Who Pays, Who Is Left Behind?

The floods of July 2021 exposed the vulnerability of our built environment on a scale rarely seen in recent decades. Entire communities in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were devastated, people lost their homes, and infrastructure systems collapsed. Alongside the immediate challenges of disaster relief, reconstruction quickly became a major focus of political and public attention. Supported by a dedicated reconstruction assistance fund, it became a central responsibility for local authorities, the federal states and the federal government.

Yet reconstruction is far more than a technical process. It represents a profound intervention in the spatial environment, one that can reinforce or transform existing structures and perpetuate or reduce inequalities. It also raises fundamental social and political questions. The impacts of the floods varied across locations, as did the conditions for recovery. Socio-economic status, insurance coverage, local authority capacity and access to information all played a crucial role. From a spatial planning perspective, this raises several key questions: How were reconstruction costs shared between the state, private individuals and the insurance industry? Who was able to access financial assistance and other resources, and how quickly and to what extent? Were particular areas or groups prioritised, and if so, which ones? What planning objectives were pursued, and which were neglected?

This project addresses these questions by combining a socio-spatial analysis with perspectives from governance and public policy. It examines how resources were distributed during the reconstruction process, which areas and population groups benefited most or were disadvantaged, and which underlying governance approaches shaped these decisions.

Dates: Monday, October 19, 2026, through February 1, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., weekly
Thursday, October 14, 2026, through February 3, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., weekly
Block session (see LSF)
Location: GB III, R 105
Further information: Course listing in the LSF
Instructors: Marisa Fuchs,M.Sc.; Peter Davids, M.Sc.