Demolition or preservation, new-build or extension? The question of how to deal with the existing urban space is the focus of the next Design Discussion organised by the Faculty of Design at the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) and the Cultural Office of the City of Krefeld.
On Thursday, 2 July 2026, at 8 pm, architect Claudia Schmidt will speak on Studio Stage 2 at Fabrik Heeder (Virchowstraße 130) alongside Professor Dr Erik Schmid, Dean of the Faculty of Design, on the topic of ‘repairing’ cities and buildings. The focus will be on the question of how existing structures can be preserved, adapted and meaningfully developed further, rather than being demolished and replaced. Admission is free.
The built environment faces major challenges: climate change, resource scarcity and the transformation of urban spaces are fundamentally altering the demands placed on architecture and urban planning. Approaches centred on building on existing structures and repair are becoming increasingly important.
Claudia Schmidt, an architect based in Amsterdam and Krefeld, has been working for years on how to deal with existing built heritage. As co-author of a cultural-historical analysis of Krefeld’s urban development – which was adopted by the City Council as a development strategy – she brings extensive expertise in the fields of heritage conservation, urban development and sustainable building culture.
