CITY OF EVOLUTION – URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR TOMORROW’S NEEDS

From the promotion of new construction and creative conversion of existing buildings to renaturation, networked micro-mobility and intelligent parking management: Düsseldorf's urban development is extremely diverse.

Sustainable transformation is currently one of the most challenging topics, also in the construction industry. Sustainable housing must be affordable – but how? VIVID spoke to experts about solutions.

In order to create space, especially for living, in compact and growing Düsseldorf, the conversion of existing properties is an important option. Creative projects are can be found all over the city – now and in the future.

Talking to landscape architect, urban planner and architect Professor Andreas Kipar, founder and CEO of LAND Germany GmbH, about his global projects is incredibly reassuring. He is certain that thriving landscapes in climate-adapted cities are not so difficult to achieve.

What began in 2012 as a small start-up with South African roots has rapidly developed into an international brand. The Düsseldorf-based lounge furniture manufacturer Vetsak inspires a global customer base – from Düsseldorf to Cape Town and New York – with its innovative approach to comfort, sustainability and modular design.

Start-ups are at the forefront of shaping the future of urban development. With their innovative and powerful technologies and models, they can make a significant contribution to making cities more liveable, sustainable and connected. At the same time, they boost the economy by creating new jobs, attracting investment and improving the climate for innovation. In Düsseldorf, with its diverse start-up ecosystem, there are some excellent examples of this - we present three of them in this VIVID: meet SmartSylvan, Terra Fidelis and MyHome!

We meet in the backyard in Friedrichstadt. This is where it all happens, where Mischa Kuball creates and lives. His works are archived here and stored in transport crates. The designs for his architectural light installations are created in a studio with metres of bookshelves. He switches on the predominantly white light, puts places, people and nature in the spotlight and aims to provide political and social impetus. The 65-year-old is a bundle of energy, someone who finds it hard to take no for an answer, a restless spirit who prefers to be on the move – physically and mentally.

Düsseldorf has a vibrant music scene that has much more to offer than electronic beats and legendary names. With festivals and events, music is also an important economic and tourism factor for the city. The association Music Düsseldorf was founded in 2024 to strengthen the positioning of the industry and brings together the key players in Düsseldorf's music industry. Board member Melanie Schrader talks about the diversity of the scene, the challenges and opportunities for musicians, and how the association plans to work with the city to strengthen its vibrant music culture.

He is a pioneer of the German gaming scene: as Managing Director of Ubisoft Blue Byte and Zone Managing Director, Benedikt Grindel is jointly responsible for the development of worldfamous games such as "The Settlers" and "Anno". He talks to VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about his fascination with gaming, his career moves, the importance of the gaming industry for the economy as a whole and the particular advantages of Düsseldorf as a business location.

At the age of 14, Clara Hunnenberg already knew she wanted to join the family business. She is now 32 years old, has a degree in event management and together with her mother, Heike, is running Hunnenberg GmbH, a flooring wholesaler in Düsseldorf-Flingern. In conversation, her passion for her job and her trade is obvious - as is her love for her home city.

How should a city be designed in order to become a place where everyone feels comfortable? Contemporary urban planning focuses on the different needs of all genders, age groups and cultures.

What was once a densely wooded area with very few inhabitants is still heavily industrialised: the area of manufacturing industry in the south-eastern part of Lierenfeld is almost twice as large as the residential area! Since the end of the 2010s, artists and creative businesses have increasingly been drawn to the district, which still has spacious lofts, factory halls and back courtyards. In short, Lierenfeld is an extremely diverse part of Düsseldorf with an enormous capacity for change.