Student sustainability projects win top honors in urban and rural design

Two student projects from the Institute for Sustainable Urbanism have earned recognition in separate competitions. One team received a commendation for their rural development plan, while another student secured first place for her urban housing concept. Both works were supervised by the same academic team at the university. Leonie Steinert and Luzia Gödde were awarded a commendation in the Lower Saxony Academy for Rural Development’s university prize. Their project, Growing Together—Taking Root Sustainably: A Future Plan for Wasbüttel, was created alongside the rural community of Wasbüttel. It focuses on climate adaptation, regional growth, and sustainable land-use strategies. The official ceremony will be held on December 8 at 5:00 PM at the Savings Banks Association of Lower Saxony in Hanover.

Dana de Voß, a student at Technical University of Braunschweig, took first place in the Urban and Retail Knowledge Network’s student competition. Her winning entry, *At Home in the Böttger Block*, aims to strengthen neighbourly support and increase children’s independence in city environments. Both projects were developed under the guidance of Professor Vanessa Miriam Carlow, Daniel Grenz, Benedikt Herz, Olaf Mumm, and Bodo Neuss.

The awards highlight the institute’s focus on practical, community-driven solutions for urban and rural challenges. Steinert and Gödde’s work will be formally recognised in December, while de Voß’s project has already been distinguished in a national competition. Each initiative reflects ongoing efforts to merge academic research with real-world sustainability goals.