Transdisciplinary Housing Lab
The Housing Laboratory of the DFG Research Training Group “Gewohnter Wandel – Societal transformation and spatial materialization of housing” is based at the IfS and investigates housing policy conflicts between polycrisis, authoritarian neoliberalism, and the socio-ecological transformation of housing. Designed as a long-term research infrastructure, it aims to research and actively shape the social transformation and spatial materialization of housing through civil society interventions and political, economic or structural experiments.
Within the framework of participatory research projects, methodological issues of transdisciplinary, applied and critical housing research will be addressed and developed.
In addition, the Housing Lab acts as a public contact point for the Research Training Group for research impulses and ideas from non-academic practice and the general public. In this sense, it serves as a link between the Research Training Group and civil society, taking up suggestions and translating them into joint or transdisciplinary research projects.
For inquiries and feedback, please contact Felix Wiegand (fe.wiegand@em.uni-frankfurt.de).
Lecture series: WohnWendeWerkstatt. Housing policy conflicts and socio-ecological perspectives in Frankfurt am Main (winter semester 2025/2026)
Whether it's rising rents and displacement, modernization and new construction projects, the business policies of public housing companies, or the simultaneous existence of vacant properties and homelessness: the housing issue is a hot topic in Frankfurt and one of the city's main areas of conflict. Local politics faces major challenges in this regard: the population continues to grow, construction prices and pressure from investors to generate profits remain high, the city's financial situation is tense, there is little support from the federal and state governments – and climate protection and dealing with the consequences of the climate crisis are more urgent than ever.
It is therefore necessary to discuss the opportunities and perspectives of a housing transition in Frankfurt in the run-up to the local elections in March 2026. What should social, ecological, and democratic housing provision for all look like in the future? What specific measures and instruments are necessary to achieve this, and what positive examples are there from other municipalities? And last but not least: how can a housing transition in Frankfurt be implemented—both politically and in practice?
As part of our event series WohnWendeWerkstatt, we want to engage in a shared discussion on these and many other questions– with tenants and those affected by the housing crisis, with scientists, experts, and activists from civil society, with exciting guests from outside the city, and with anyone from Frankfurt's urban society who is interested. Come along and join the discussion!
An lecutre series organized by the Housing Lab at the Institute for Social Research (IfS), with the support of the DFG Research Training Group Gewohnter Wandel (GRK 2892 ∕ 1). All events are open to the public and free of charge.
Location
2og:dondorf (former Dondorf Druckerei)
Gabriel-Riesser-Weg 3
60325 Frankfurt a. M.
Upcoming events
2026, exact dates still subject to change
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7 p.m.: Panel discussion. (Un)solvable conditions? Precarious housing and homelessness in Frankfurt.
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7 p.m.: Panel discussion. Vacant properties to housing – but how? Experiences, scope for action, and challenges.
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:00pm: Panel discussion – Does Frankfurt house uenequally? Racism as a housing issue.
Friday, February 20, 2026, Perspectives on land use:
- 11:00 am: Workshop on the example of the Grüne Lunge (start: adventure playground, Grüne Lunge)
- 6:00 pm: Presentation of results and panel discussion (2og:dondorf)
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7 p.m.: Closing event. From the workshop to the city: Strategies and recommendations for a social-ecological housing transition (WohnWende) in Frankfurt.
Siehe auch: https://gewohnter-wandel.de/
Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – Projektnummer 499392530.
