THE FEHMARN BELT INITIATIVE
One Belt, one Region A Joint Planning and Research Initiative
Date
2021-2023
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Concept
A collaboration between Roskilde University, TH Lübeck, University of Applied Sciences and Rural Agency
The BELT initiative maps development in the Fehmarn Belt region—from Køge to Lübeck—and brings together local actors, students, and planners to co-create spatial strategies. Through mapping, education, and dialogue, BELT makes architecture and planning a force for cross-border resilience and rural vitality.
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A a new Danish-German region is taking shape due to the Fehmarn Belt Connection. We wish to pursue a
collaborative, research-based planning initiative for this new region. Our aim is to facilitate a new approach to local and regional planning based on cross-border collaboration, institutional research, and the inclusion of regional stakeholders, actors, and interests groups in the process. It is our aim to carry out the work as an integrated part of the respective urban planning master’s programme in Lübeck and Roskilde in collaboration with the Zealand based architecture and planning office Rural Agency as well as Business Centre Zealand / German-Danish Innovation. We thereby hope to create a bottom-up planning and development approach with a broad foundation both on the level of research as well as in the region itself.
CONNECTING THE DOTS
The Fehmarn Belt connection will mean the emergence of a new Danish-German region connected not only by enhanced infrastructure and new business opportunities, but also through new shared interests
in relation to the joint development of a sustainable region in relation to resource management, housing and tourism. The Fehmarn Belt Connection is characterized by connecting two mainly rural and periurban areas on each side of the Fehmarn Belt. From a planning and development perspective, this situation represents a unique opportunity - but also a challenge - to ensure a decentralized perspective on the region. This would mean a stern focus on the opportunities spread across the region, rather than looking solely at connecting the potential in existing growth areas. Through our research based approach, we will seek to integrate social, cultural and environmental aspects in a coherent analysis and handson planning recommendations for the Fehmarn Region. Key to the approach is an in-depth understanding of the diversity of the area, and the changing process that the area is about undertake. This knowledge we will gather through close research together with our students and through collaborations with partners on both the German and Danish side.
METODOLOGY
The Fehmarn Belt initiative is thought as a 3 year long project with students from the Planning Programms in Roskilde and Lübeck. Behind the initiative is Frank Schwartze, Professor of Urbanism and Planning at TH
Lübeck, University of Applied Sciences, Lasse Martin Kofoed, Associate Professor, Space, Place, Mobility and Urban Studies at Roskilde University, and Anna Sofie Hvid, founder of the architecture studio Rural Agency and member of ARENA Architectural Research European Network Association. The academic year will entail 2 - 4 cross-boarder collaborative events for the students in relation to the initiative (workshops, lectures or field trips) as well as students group projects (Belt Studios) which connect to the initiative. The activities will be lead by the teachers at Roskilde University and the TH Lübeck in collaboration with Rural Agency, which will facilitate connections to local stakeholders and actors, and give guidance to the individual group projects on applicability, the local governmental aspects of physical planning as well as the aspects of bridging research and implementation in planning processes. The Fehmarn Belt initiative will focus on the following areas:
BELT STUDIOS
In the course of the summer term 2022 students from the Planning Programmes of RUC and TH Lübeck
will pursue a first set of Belt Planning Studios in which in collaboration with local stakeholders from municipalities and other agencies and partners for specific places or areas concepts and strategies will be
developed. Findings and ideas will be included in the overall strategy. The Belt Studios will supply students the opportunity to research cases together with local actors and produce a proposal brief or strategy recommendations. The Belt Studios is an essential part of the project which will involve a variety of aspects in the region and guarantee an opportunity for local stakeholders and actors to take part and engage in the process. The Belt Studios will be reality based, with ready to implement recommendations,
and with a high degree of co-ownership at local level.
