Publications
Cultural Heritage in the face of climate change: Between preservation and adaptation. An exploratory case study on the integration of climate adaptation into UNESCO World Heritage Site "Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof"
Climate adaptation within UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) is feasible but fraught with challenges, particularly when balancing preservation needs with structural or visible modifications. A case study of Regensburg’s Old Town and Stadtamhof reveals that while measures like greening or depaving offer climate resilience benefits, they often clash with heritage conservation goals and aesthetic concerns about the historic townscape. Additional barriers include social resistance, institutional constraints, technical limitations, and financial resource shortages. However, the site’s inherent features—such as cool streets, robust historic structures, adaptive reuse potential, and historical knowledge—provide opportunities for climate adaptation. Successful integration requires systemic approaches, cross-sector collaboration, public acceptance, sufficient resources, and a more flexible interpretation of heritage conservation. The study underscores that effective climate adaptation in WHS demands more than technical solutions; it necessitates a holistic, cooperative, and adaptive framework to navigate complex trade-offs.
Patrimonialization and Cooperation
Regensburg's medieval Jewish community, though historically significant and internationally important, has left little visible trace in the UNESCO-listed Old Town. This study reveals how Jewish cultural heritage is currently presented in museums and the old town, highlighting the role of various actors—cultural, political, and scientific—in shaping its narrative. A key finding is the limited engagement of the present-day Jewish community in defining and preserving their heritage, despite efforts to foster participation through collaborative projects like a DFG-funded initiative. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining historical analysis with participatory strategies to explore opportunities and challenges in patrimonialization. The study underscores the need for inclusive approaches to ensure active community involvement in heritage preservation.
Das Besucherzentrum Welterbe Regensburg
A groundbreaking visitor center design for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof, successfully integrates advanced exhibition techniques to narrate the city's economic and social evolution. This collaborative effort between the Visitor Center and FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences in Graz demonstrates how scenography can effectively communicate complex historical narratives. The center employs modern presentation methods, blending academic insights on visitor engagement with artistic photography by Elisa Wüntscher to create an immersive experience. Published as a best-practice case study, this initiative offers valuable lessons for heritage site interpretation and urban history education.
Study on the Design of Playable Urban Public Space
Diverse and continuous participation is the key to creating active, playful urban public spaces that cater to children and young people. This study examines Germany's 'master plan of play' as a systematic framework for integrating playful design into urban environments, using Regensburg's old town as a case study. The research analyzes the planning process, organizational structure, and strategies for developing playful public spaces, emphasizing the importance of sustained engagement from stakeholders, including children and youth. By exploring potential spaces and implementing participatory design approaches, the study provides insights that could inform child-friendly urban development in China and other regions.
Performative experiential learning strategies: reenacting the historical, enacting the everyday
A study demonstrates the pedagogical potential of two distinct performative strategies—reenactment and public art intervention—to foster dialogue about historical events and contemporary issues. The research found that reenacting a specific historical event, such as the 1941 massacre in Odessa, facilitated focused discussions on individual biographies, while a public performance using nuclear bunker beds in Regensburg's Old Town sparked diverse interpretations among passers-by, addressing themes like comfort, safety, and privacy. Both approaches reveal the challenges and rewards of engaging with strangers, offering new perspectives on the past and present through dialogue.
Regensburg Old Town
Regensburg's Old Town stands as a testament to its pivotal role as a medieval trading hub and political center, showcasing the cultural traditions of the Holy Roman Empire. The city's architecture, built primarily from Jurassic massive limestone and Regensburg Green Sandstone, reflects its significance in continental trade routes connecting Italy, Bohemia, Russia, and Byzantium. Additionally, Regensburg served as a key location for Imperial Assemblies during the High Middle Ages and hosted the Perpetual Imperial Diet from 1663 to 1806. The city's historical importance is further underscored by its status as the first Bavarian capital under the Agilolfinger dynasty in the 6th century and the establishment of the diocese in 739.
Strategies, policies and tools for an integrated World Heritage management approach
A novel integrated management approach for UNESCO World Heritage Sites has been successfully implemented in Regensburg, Germany. This model effectively addresses urban heritage challenges by combining theoretical and practical guidelines with local, regional, and national stakeholder engagement. The strategy offers adaptable tools and policies that can be tailored to other historic cities, depending on factors such as size, tourism intensity, ownership, and governance. While the approach is site-specific due to varying heritage values, its core principles provide a sustainable framework for integrating cultural heritage into urban development.
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