Planning space is usually defined by political and administrative boundaries, although our living and economic space is shaped by functional contexts such as: catchment area, everyday travel, and spatial identity. When planning regional development, the region must always be redefined as the object of planning and communicated as such during the participation process. Further development of the region in partnership with local people is the goal of innovative regional development.

The Research Unit (formerly Centre) of Regional Planning and Regional Development deals with methods, the process design, implementation, and evaluation of regional spatial planning and regional development. Through dissertations, research projects, commissioned projects, final year projects and practical courses, we study, develop and accompany the implementation of spatial development processes and instruments that cut across municipal, provincial, and national borders. In this context, interdisciplinary collaboration with experts, universities, public authorities, and NGOs is regarded as an essential component and put into practice accordingly.

News

People looking at posters
© Thomas Dillinger

The mid-term presentation of the P2 Strudengau North project took place in Bad Kreuzen (Upper Austria) on November 28 2024.

Auf dem Bild sind fünf Person zu sehen die vor einer Menge präsentieren
© Christoph Kleinsasser

Last week, the landuni event ‘Rural areas in focus: inspiration, innovation and cooperation’ took place.

Text about KLEXI Webinar
© Daniel Youssef

KLEXI is a tool for municipalities to coordinate local energy development planning with the National Energy and Climate Plan. Our project assistant…

Ein Bild einer leerstehenden Erdgeschosszone.
© Elias Grinzinger

Excursion through the central area of Hernals as part of the seminar ‘Vacancy activation for temporary use’.

The photo shows a group of students in front of a red building.
© Hartmut Dumke

Excursion as part of the course “Positive Energy Districts 3.0” in Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia).

The picture shows several people from behind, sitting on chairs and listening to a lecture.
© Anna Welwert.

Under the motto ‘Observe and analyse space’, our students will take the first steps in phase 1 of the planning studio ("Raumwerkstatt"): various areas…

The picture shows three printed copies of Theresa Janesch's thesis.
© Theresa Janesch

In ‘Help, the Alps are burning!’, our former employee and graduate student Theresa Janesch has looked at ideas for a climate action plan for the town…

There are several billboards in a hall. Transparent room dividers hang from the ceiling.
© Laura Häring

Adjacent students of the Research Unit of Regional Planning and Regional Development were represented with several projects at this year's “dieRaum”…