Project summary and recommendations
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Comparative paper: ‘Governance analysis’ of LHE in Estonia, Germany and Russia
Reports ‘Governance analysis’
Germany: Halle & Berlin
Russia: St. Petersburg
Estonia: Tartu & Tallinn
Urban Redevelopment, Tenancies and Neighbourhood Relations
in Large East German Housing Estates
The role of art in large housing estates (LHEs)
Collection of statistical data of LHE in Estonia, Germany and Russia
Housing in post-socialist cities
after transition (in Russian)
Stadtumbau, Miete und Nachbarschaft in ostdeutschen Großwohnsiedlungen
(in German)
Project structure
1. Specification of working structure
The three teams work on a detailed step-by-step research plan. The main aim is to guarantee a shared research strategy and a joint understanding of the research objectives across the consortium; the development of a common conceptual and analytical framework.
2. Governance analysis
Central point of this working package is to analyze and compare institutions involved and approaches applied in urban planning processes in Russia, Estonia and East Germany. Key issues like property structures, land regulations, provision of finance and local urban development strategies for the neighborhoods selected in each city will be elaborated. Sources: interviews with experts of national-level housing policies, municipal officials and local planners, academic and professional experts, housing management companies, private developers, civil society initiatives and local activists.
3. Analysis of secondary statistical data
On the ground of working package a common structure for the collection and analysis of secondary statistical data will be developed - in order to assure comparability, and questions of different definitions, and geographical scopes of the data in the national contexts. The comparative analysis of the secondary statistical data will be conducted by the three teams simultaneously. Depending on the quality of available comparative data, methods used in the analysis will range from descriptive to multivariate statistics. The analysis will be summarized in three reports that will be compared systematically and interpreted by the three PI’s.
4. Focus groups with local residents
To observe the “local view” we carry out a focus group survey: 4-8 group interviews per case. The actual sample will be constructed in accordance to the actual conditions in the different localities researched and include participants from different building types, owners, or management companies. The focus group interviews will be based on a common list of questions, detailed guidelines for data collection, and an initial coding scheme for the data analysis. They will be recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analyzed by the individual teams. Three reports will be worked out detailing the perspectives of residents in the individual neighborhoods studied.
5. Drawing conclusions, final report
Summarizing all research results within a comprehensive research report based on the outcomes and deliverables of WP1-4. It will be drafted in a way that makes it a basis for a publishable volume.
6. Impact and Policy Recommendations
“Action groups” will be formed consisting of project participants, stakeholders, civil society activists and planners in each city to develop their own agenda for fostering transformation. We will also hold three "National workshops" that bring together the project consortium with the local “action groups”, but also involve stakeholders. This ensures a professional feedback and a substantial knowledge transfer to local authorities, municipalities and local/national decision makers. Lessons learned and “best practice” recommendations will be summarized in policy-briefs which are set up for each case studied.
7. Capacity Building
The project will also support “capacity-building” through extensive teaching activities. First, teaching will be provided in the context of the international study module „Urban Planning: Changing Cities and ICT“at the University of Tartu. Second, we will organize a “Summer School” in St. Petersburg with 15-20 participants. The “Summer School” will be combined with a Research Lab and result in innovative designs and proposals developed by the students.
8. Academic dissemination
With regards to the academic community, dissemination activities include the publication of scientific articles and the publication of an edited volume with an international publisher. All publications and reports will be also available on this website. The WP furthermore comprises the participation of the consortium at national and international conferences (AAG, RC21, ENHR, CAT) , including the coordination of one or two sessions. In addition we will organize one international conference facilitating science-practice exchange across the respective national backgrounds and facilitating the publication of a high-quality edited volume.