Alicja & Mareike
31.05.2026
Researching and Shaping Climate Futures
Our vision of desired future of the city is based on communities: Imagine waking up in the future, where the organisation of work changed and, instead of working for five days a week in rigid blocks, people could work three or four days a week. This would allow people to meet, engage, and organise on a local scale, both within their neighbourhoods and at their places of employment. As a result, projects aimed at reclaiming neighbourhood spaces could emerge, alongside collective initiatives such as community canteens and urban gardening projects. The positive impact of these projects would encourage more people to join, slowly but surely transforming neighbourhoods and ways of thinking. This transformation would move away from individualism. Engaged neighbours would also become the political basis of the system, managing projects such as more sustainable waste treatment, reducing the use of concrete, and implementing renewable energy solutions. Scientists would be engaged in supporting these projects. Public transportation would be free, fast, and reliable. In addition, an increase in bike paths, bus lanes, and green spaces along streets would make the use of cars undesirable for most residents. Together, these developments would contribute to a society that is more sustainable, socially connected, and collectively organised.
These changes may appear ambitious, however they highlight how alternative ways of organising work and daily life could create opportunities for greater community engagement and environmental sustainability. By creating more time for participation in local initiatives, people could play a more active role in shaping the places in which they live and work.