New professor for open space planning: Hansen brings a breath of fresh air to Kassel!

New professor for open space planning: Hansen brings a breath of fresh air to Kassel!

On October 1, 2025, Dr. Rieke Hansen is Professor of Open Space Planning at the University of Kassel. With a comprehensive background in landscape and open space planning, acquired through her studies at Leibniz University Hannover and a traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia, she brings valuable experience in research and teaching. She worked at the Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen University for several years before receiving her doctorate in 2018 with her dissertation on “green infrastructure”. For the past six years, she has been a tenure-track professor of open space planning and ecological urban development at Geisenheim University.

At the University of Kassel, Dr. Hansen is responsible for the field of open space planning and focuses on the further development of open space planning and governance. Her research interests include the planning and design of urban green and open spaces as well as sustainable urban development. The challenges in the context of social-ecological transformation processes are the focus of her work. She is also a member of the “Scientific Advisory Board for Natural Climate Protection” and a registered landscape architect with the Hesse Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners. These diverse positions and experiences underline their expertise and their role in the further development of urban landscapes.

Urban green infrastructure and its importance

The brochure from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, published as part of the R&D project “Green infrastructure in urban areas: basics, planning and implementation in integrated urban development”, defines the term “urban green infrastructure”. The goals of this approach as well as the planning principles and instruments are comprehensively explained. A central concern is the securing, planning and development of green infrastructure in cities, supported by organizations such as the German Garden Office Managers' Conference (GALK e. V.) and the Association of German Landscape Architects (bdla).

Particular attention is paid to the participation of the actors and the identification of area backdrops. The strategic steps also include concrete implementation options for municipal practice. This shows how important the integration of green spaces is for the quality of life and the development of urban spaces - topics that Dr. Hansen takes up in her research.

The challenges of urban nature

In view of the rapidly advancing climatic changes, species extinction and social transformation processes, the challenges for German cities and municipalities are considerable. The protection and development of urban nature are considered important areas of action. Urban green spaces must meet ecological, social, economic and aesthetic requirements. The collaboration with experts such as landscape architects from Group F – Freiraum für alle GmbH and IP SYSCON GmbH aims to develop groundbreaking recommendations for action.

A central goal of these efforts is to promote biological diversity and to integrate natural processes and the experience of nature into urban spaces. Research results and practical examples should be analyzed and translated into locally adapted solutions. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is planning a kind of “toolbox” for cities within the Urban Nature Master Plan, which is intended to contribute to a more effective use of urban green infrastructure.

The exchange about these challenges is being promoted in a learning alliance with cities such as Rostock, Wiesbaden, Würzburg and the Ruhr regional association. The discussion focuses on identifying needs for action and developing concrete solutions to make urban space sustainable.