Planning diversity: the influence of city planning on spatial structures of diversity and the cohabitation of diverse groups 

Christian Jacobs

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In his dissertation, Christian investigates the influence of city planning on spatial structures of diversity, and the housing opportunities and housing patterns of diverse groups in German cities. He analyses the interventions of public and private planners, as well as their underlying ideas. City planning today faces new tasks, as the composition of cities, through the diversification of urban societies, and the structures of urban planning, have changed significantly in recent times. Cities nowadays commonly claim that they benefit from diversity and want to promote a diverse society. What remains mostly unclear, however, is how these claims affect policies and planning. Christian’s research focus is on city administrations in Germany, and especially the planning departments. How are public and private planners reacting to a diversification of urban societies? What are their aims, objectives, and guiding principles? How great is the planner’s actual scope of action? This project is part of the  “CityDiv” project.