Freiburg Unfolded: Seeing the City Through Data

Project in Winter semester 2025/26

This semester, we will collaborate with the City of Freiburg, Green Group, and ICLEI to
explore how urban data can become a medium for reimagining the future of cities. Data is
not just a collection of numbers; it carries stories of infrastructures, communities, and
environments. By unfolding these layers of information, we will reveal hidden dynamics,
identify challenges, and discover potentials that shape urban life. Our goal is to move beyond
analysis and create tools that translate abstract datasets into meaningful instruments for
design, planning, communication, and participation. Together, we will investigate how cities
can use these tools to articulate visions of their future, and how creative practices can
contribute to more inclusive and sustainable urban transformations. 

Throughout the semester, our work will evolve through three phases:

Uncovering Urban Layers:
We will begin by engaging with Freiburg’s Geoportal and examining the available datasets. In
the second week, we will visit Freiburg, meet city representatives, and experience the city
firsthand. This phase is about identifying urban challenges and questioning how data can
help tackle them.

Framing the Tools:
From our initial findings, we will shape, refine, and develop concrete concepts. Your tools
may focus on analyzing data, supporting urban planning, facilitating digital communication, or
fostering public participation. This stage is about transforming ideas into frameworks for
action.

Prototyping Ideas:
The semester culminates in hands-on prototyping. Through workshops, you will learn how to
translate your concept into a working prototype. No prior coding knowledge is required! The
process will guide you step by step, allowing your concepts to take form as tangible, testable
tools for the city.