Navigating Urban Development: Learnings from East and Southeast Asia

The world is facing rapid urbanization and an escalating ­climate crisis.

According to UN-Habitat, by 2050 around 70 percent of the world’s population –- some 6.7 billion ­people -– will be living in cities, putting enormous pressure on infrastructure, resources, and the environment. The question is no longer whether cities must change, but how –- and how to drive that change swiftly and effectively.

This book explores how sustainable urban transformation can be achieved through global collaboration, innovative research, and a focus on impact on the ground. It was compiled as a result of the SURE Facilitation & Synthesis research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the Sustainable Development of Urban Regions (SURE) funding priority.

Drawing from ten research projects in Cambodia, China, ­Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, Navigating ­Urban Development offers insights into how diverse actors are co-creating solutions for more re­silient, inclusive urban futures. By linking theory and practice, it offers conceptual grounding, case studies, and hands-on tools for navigating complexity and inspiring lasting change not only in East and Southeast Asia, but also in other regions.

Vivienne Mayer is an urbanist and researcher passionate about socio-ecological restoration, community-driven climate adaptation, and regenerative urban systems. She holds a Master’s in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design and is currently a research associate at TH Lübeck, University of Applied Sciences, working on sustainable ­urban development in Southeast Asia.

Anika Slawski is an urban planner who holds a Master’s in Urban Design and is a research associate at TH Lübeck, University of Applied Sciences. Her doctoral research focuses on placemaking – the appropriation and design of spaces by people – with an emphasis on rapidly growing cities in Southeast Asia.

Frank Schwartze is an urban planner and since 2013 a professor for urbanism and planning at TH Lübeck, University of Applied Science. His focus is on strategic planning and forms and processes of sustainable urban development. After his studies in Berlin and Venice he obtained a European Postgraduate Diploma in France. As a practitioner he is engaged in urban planning and consultancy for municipalities and regions in Germany as well as for international development agencies.