Ongoing globalization and the consequent feeling of uprooting, has generated an increasing search for individual identities. The growing importance of this demand is evident in the turn to history in urban development. In cities worldwide you can observe the construction of new quarters with reference to historical typologies. Buildings are even demolished in order to erect former lost historic ensembles or desired “new historic images”. This presentation discusses these ‘retro’ phenomena by looking at projects in Germany, China and Russia.

About the lecturer

Dr. Barbara Engel is a German Architect, Urban planner and researcher. Her research focused on urban development in Post-Soviet and Post-Socialist cities and the redevelopment of historic and post-war modern heritage. She currently is the Chair for International Urban planning and Design at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.