By Els Keunen
The Städtebau Kolloquium is a recurring event organised by the Institute of Urban Planning and Design of the University of Stuttgart.At this event, eminent academics and practitioners are invited to discussa current topic in urban planning. Anne Juel Andersen and Sven Buch were invited as speakers for the summer 2026 series and held their talk titled ‘Transforming Aalborg: Urban Renewal from Harbourfront to Aalborg East’ on 19 May 2026.
In the talk, Anne discussed the significant changes that Aalborg has experienced in recent decades. As industrial harbour activities relocated to areas outside the city centre and the university grew in importance, the former harbour area was transformed into dense residential districts. Since then, various novel housing projects, including numerous student apartments built between 2010 and 2020, have resulted in a profound transformation of the city.
Subsequently, Sven took us to Aalborg East, which has transformed from a stigmatized area into an integrated district through architecture, social strategies, infrastructural links, active housing associations and public-space investments that reduce segregation and enhance quality of life. The floor was then opened to the audience consisting of practitioners, students, and colleagues from the university, who contributed thoughtful questions to the discussion. The colloquium drew to a warm and convivial close with an informal gathering over drinks, providing a nice opportunity for attendees to connect, exchange ideas, and continue the conversations sparked by Anne and Sven’s inputs.
Image credits: Frank Dölling, 2026
