Democratic Design

Introduction

Our democracy is currently experiencing difficult times. Many people have lost faith in civic engagement, withdrawing instead into protest or resignation. Others seek greater inclusion but are denied equal access.

Democracy requires tools that spark interest, inspire involvement and enable participation. Architecture and urban planning hold significant potential as drivers of fairer and broader inclusion – particularly for those whose voices remain unheard in political discourse and the shaping of public space. They also open pathways into crucial debates about democracy and the future of our shared living environment.

The first Lab Talk in the Aedes programme Democratic Design brings together planning and civil society to identify tools for effective collaboration and broader communication. How can the largest possible group of people jointly develop optimistic visions for the future? What formats can be developed to pave the way for collaboration and compromise?

Programme

Welcome
Miriam Mlecek, Partner, Aedes, Berlin

Presentations
Katarina Bramsen Buhl, Democratic Design Department, C.F. Møller, Copenhagen
Roeland Dudal, Director, Architecture Workroom, Brussels
Aurelija Matulevičiūtė-Goldschmidt, Senior Urban Specialist, TSPA, Berlin
Theresa Bader, Cityförster, Hanover

Moderator
James MacDonald-Nelson, Cities Programme Lead, DemocracyNext, Berlin

Front-Row Peers
Yannick Müller, Researcher, CityLAB Berlin
Carl Zillich, Architect, Managing Director, Projektbüro Innenstadt Bremen

About Democratic Design

In Democratic Design – Space for Cooperation, Collaboration and Compromise, Aedes explores how architecture, planning processes and public spaces can foster democratic engagement and social cohesion – both more urgent than ever in times of profound societal uncertainty. The programme consists of an exhibition, a series of four Lab Talks and a catalogue featuring contributions from practitioners in Berlin, Germany and across Europe, selected through an open call in collaboration with European architecture centres.

At the core of Democratic Design are democratic planning processes and the spaces they create. The presented projects amplify marginalised voices, encourage participation and inspire collective visions for the future. Dialogue and exchange are essential conditions for democracy, cultivating the ability to accept differing viewpoints and to compromise – the very foundations of democratic culture. More

Democratic Design – Space for Cooperation, Collaboration and Compromise is curated by the Aedes team and presented at Aedes in Berlin.

Democratic Design is made possible through the generous support of the Berlin Capital Cultural Fund (Hauptstadtkulturfonds) and additional support from the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS.