aac Spring Workshop 2026
11.02 to 06.03.2026 at the Rainvilleterrasse Campus in Hamburg 

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Description of Workshop Topic

In what ways can major events act as catalysts for visionary urban development?

At the aac Spring Workshop 2026, strategies for planning and developing major events were explored using the potential EXPO 2035 in Berlin as an example. In addition, the workshop examined how the temporary structures required for such events can be developed into a new urban fabric. As part of Berlin's bid to host the 2035 World Expo, the former Berlin-Tegel Airport (TXL) was examined more closely as an exemplary location.

World exhibitions have always reflected their time, and EXPO 2035 in Berlin could do so in a new way. As a symbol of change and transformation, and as Germany's political centre and a microcosm of global diversity, Berlin could become a laboratory for exploring questions about the future.
When Berlin Tegel Airport was built, it was considered the most modern in the world. Now, the former airport site could temporarily become part of the 2035 Berlin Expo, once again becoming a place for technical innovations from around the globe. 

The plan is to build the country pavilions and central Expo facilities on the site. The challenge was to transform the area of the listed airport into a forward-looking place of global encounter and innovation. Based on the existing master plan, concepts were developed to lead from the strategic urban planning of an exhibition site to the creation of a sustainable, contemporary urban quarter.

The aim was to develop viable architectural and urban concepts for the future that reflect the appeal of a World Exhibition while also anticipating the long-term reuse of the site as a new district of Berlin.

Description of Workshop Format

The designs were conceptualised and developed in international groups. In addition to tutorials and interim presentations, the workshop was accompanied by a public lecture programme. 
The workshop began with an excursion to Berlin in Germany.

Following the workshop, the results were shown in the form of an exhibition on the premises of the aac in Hamburg.

aac Workshop Team
Stephan Schütz, Nicolas Pomränke, Enno Maass, Annika Göttle, Anja Meding, Gabriela Hopf

Tutors
Walter Gebhardt, Annika Göttle, Sona Kazemi und Anja Meding

Scholarship Holders
Felix Bober, William Frorup, Sophia Hausner, Maximilian Hüttl, Lasse Kock, Meeri Koivistoinen, Li Nengchen, Sanjana Narayanan, Daša Pintarič, Geraldine Reyes, Joke Rosenberger, Anna-Lena Schraven, Johann Turner, Wan Weng Kuent, Saskia Wiebusch, Oliwia Zembaty

Guest Professors and Experts
Spyros Koulouris (aac-Alumnus, Lehrstuhl Sustainable Urbanism, TU München), Sandra Niebling (schlaich bergermann partner sbp), Jannis Renner (aac-Alumnus, ATELIER BRÜCKNER), Rudi Scheuermann (Arup) und Thomas Willemeit (GRAFT Gesellschaft von Architekten)