Mixed-use neighbourhoods are now regarded as the model for modern urban development: living, working and shopping are brought together in a compact spatial arrangement, with the aim of creating short distances and a sense of urbanity. In many projects, however, the mix of uses remains limited to these three elements. This means that considerable potential is being squandered, as cultural, educational and socio-cultural provision is central to a location’s identity, social stability and long-term appeal – and thus also to the economic prospects of neighbourhoods.
„First life, then spaces, then buildings – the other way around never works.“
One has to agree with Jan Gehl, the Danish architect and urban planner. For cities to be liveable, life must take centre stage. A successful neighbourhood therefore requires more than just housing, office space and amenities. People need places where they can spend time without having to consume, where they can learn, experiment and interact with others. Cultural and educational provision, as well as socio-cultural facilities, can play an important role in residents’ everyday lives. In concrete terms, this might look like this: a neighbourhood library with lounge areas, study spaces and an events room, which is used during the day by school pupils, students and working people, and hosts readings or workshops in the evenings. A community centre that serves as a neighbourhood hub, a youth club and a venue for local initiatives, featuring a small hall, open workshops and advisory services.
A music or art school whose premises are used not only for lessons but also for public concerts, exhibitions and collaborations with schools and universities. Such places shape everyday life in the neighbourhood and bring it to life as a ‘destination’.
A successful example is the new Werksviertel-Mitte in Munich, which was awarded the German Urban Development Prize in 2023. Alongside a large city park, the development will feature 1,150 flats, around 6,700 jobs in the catering, hotel, service and retail sectors, as well as studios, exhibition spaces, a concert hall, leisure and sports facilities, and a local shopping centre. The packed calendar of events on its own website demonstrates the clear and innovative rebranding of this once historic industrial and nightlife district.
These elements are key factors in urban and neighbourhood development. Cultural and educational provision enhances a neighbourhood’s appeal to families, skilled workers and students. They serve as a selling point when it comes to attracting businesses or marketing housing projects, because they demonstrate that there is more going on here than just basic amenities; there is quality of life and a vibrant community. From a property market perspective, they also act as value drivers by helping to establish a neighbourhood’s image as vibrant and attractive. A residential area with a prominent library, a community centre and facilities for children and young people is perceived differently from one that is limited to flats, offices and a supermarket.
Added to this is the social dimension. Dense, diverse neighbourhoods bring with them different social milieus, which often co-exist without coming into contact with one another. Sociocultural institutions and education-focused initiatives create spaces for interaction and participation here; they offer low-threshold access for people from different backgrounds. If there is a place in the neighbourhood where workshops, language courses, leisure activities, cultural events and advisory services come together, this place becomes the neighbourhood’s ‘shared living room’.
Conflicts can be addressed at an early stage, participation can be organised, and community life can be actively shaped. For urban planners, this means that cultural, educational and socio-cultural elements form part of a neighbourhood’s social infrastructure – and act as a buffer against fragmentation and polarisation.
To realise this potential, it is not enough simply to set aside space ‘somewhere’ for culture or education. Successful neighbourhoods are characterised by the fact that such uses are integrated into the project’s logic at an early stage. In concrete terms, this means that, right from the start of development, urban planning objectives are linked to a substantive vision. Which target groups are intended to live and work in the neighbourhood? What educational and cultural provision is lacking in the local area? Based on a structured needs analysis, a land-use concept should be drawn up that defines the type and size of spaces required for cultural, educational and socio-cultural provision.
The second key to success lies in governance: cultural, educational and socio-cultural provision requires clear lines of responsibility and viable operating models. Urban planners and urban development agencies should clarify at an early stage whether, for example, local authority facilities, independent organisations or other bodies are the appropriate operators. An operational concept sets out opening hours, the range of services on offer, forms of cooperation and links with the wider community, as well as internal organisation and staffing requirements. In addition to identifying investment requirements, business planning is also necessary to provide transparency regarding running costs and revenue potential, thereby ensuring long-term viability. In this way, the idea of a community centre, a library or a cultural venue is transformed into a concrete, financially viable and organisationally established facility within the neighbourhood.
actori supports cities and project developers in incorporating cultural, educational and socio-cultural elements from the outset and embedding them strategically: from preliminary studies and needs analysis, through usage concepts and spatial and functional programmes, to operational concepts, organisational models, cost-benefit analyses and business planning.
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A contribution by Amélie Strobel, project lead.