MA Studio WiSe 2026/27
Prof. Dr. Anke Hagemann, M.Sc. Johanna Westermann, M.Sc. Melanie Marshal, M.Sc. Lukas Pappert

Living with Water
Designing and Implementing Nature-based Solutions in Rejodani, Indonesia

Indonesia’s rapidly growing urban and peri-urban areas face increasing water-related challenges as a result of changing land-use patterns, and climate change. This international and interdisciplinary design-build studio explores how water-sensitive urban design and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can contribute to more resilient and liveable environments, focusing on the development and implementation of NbS in the peri-urban community of Rejodani, Indonesia. As part of the PolyUrbanWaters research project and in collaboration with students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, and TH Köln, participants will develop spatial strategies and site-specific design proposals addressing water-related challenges. The studio introduces students to the principles of water-sensitive urban design, participatory planning, and design-build methodologies, while exploring how to collaboratively design across cultures and disciplines.

The studio follows a design-to-implementation approach. Throughout the semester, students develop their projects from site analysis and concept design to implementation planning in close collaboration with our partners. Selected proposals will be realised during a Design-Build Summer School in Indonesia together with local communities and project partners. 

The PiV consists of the practical implementation during a Design-Build Summer School in Indonesia (approximately one week, planned for late March / early April 2027), hosted by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and collaboratlively conducted with students from UGM and TH Köln. Our aim is for all students participating in the studio to join the implementation phase and experience the complete design-build process, from planning to construction. We have secured a basic budget to support the implementation phase and are currently applying for additional funding to further subsidise travel and accommodation costs. The level of financial support available to individual students will depend on the total number of participants and the outcome of these funding applications. For this reason, we will not be able to confirm the exact financial arrangements at the beginning of the semester.

As this is a real-world project carried out in collaboration with local partners and communities, participation in the implementation requires a responsible and collaborative approach, as well as a commitment to contributing to the preparation and implementation of the project.

Photo: © PolyUrbanWaters

Download poster here.