The Summer School Synergic Urban Systems is a hybrid summer school (blended intensive program) organized within the ENHANCE alliance. The Summer School is based on co-creation processes in which students develop context-specific and place-based visions and implementation proposals for an urban transformation area in the host city.

The course examines the patterns of cleavage, conflict, convergence of interest, and consensus that have influenced spatial planning.

Development, transformation and impact of spatial planning in the social, political and institutional environment with references to the international debate. Development of Swiss spatial planning movement in the 1930s and institutionalisation in the 1960s and 1970s. Challenges since the first Spatial Planning Act 1979. Links to spatial planning in Germany.

This class aims to help students integrate skills of writing, thinking, and arguing so that they can build persuasive arguments in the discipline of spatial planning.

Overview of current and future tasks of spatial planning, discussion of formal and informal instruments, and introduction to a methodical way of action-oriented planning. (Tasks, methods and instruments).

The course Urban Design Studio for Planners is an introduction to urban design through design workshops supported by tutorials and input lectures. What added value can the tools and concepts of urban design give to planning approaches? In this course students will learn how to observe, analyse, and design functional, desirable, equitable, sustainable urban spaces.