Where the Built and the Unbuilt Meet

While the boundaries between urban and rural spaces are dissolving, planning must adapt to this shift by integrating green and blue infrastructure as essential elements of urban transformation. Formats like the IBA (International Building Exhibition) can promote an ecologically responsible Baukultur within urban landscapes.

As part of the IBA’27 curatorship, Andreas Kipar calls for a move from the Nature-positive City toward a Nature-positive Landscape, where natural systems like open watercourses, tree planting, and soil regeneration become foundational tools in regional development. Projects like LANDs “Agriculture meets Manufacturing” in Fellbach and the Nature-Factory Manifesto demonstrate how public-private partnerships can turn businesses into agents of nature production. These initiatives highlight the measurable benefits of ecosystem services, such as climate adaptation, water management, and biodiversity. Innovative planning formats are needed, that transcend traditional zoning, enabling resilient, multifunctional spaces that connect built and unbuilt environments.