Relationship between city, campus design and social interaction in campuses of higher education: a case of German Universities

Abstract

The relationship of an individual to the built environment is influenced by planning and usage of space. A higher education campus can be considered as a small city on an experimental scale. This paper presents a study of German campuses of higher education offering interaction between the city and campus occupants. The comparative analysis includes the examination of the campuses based on parameters like context, land use pattern, connectivity, walkability, social interaction, landscape, etc. The expression of a place in urban settings can be determined through the composition of buildings, open spaces, alleyways and the relationship between density and openness. The conscious creation of public space can harbor human interaction and encourage an environment, which reduces conflict and insecurity. It was observed that campuses that are closely interwoven with the city fabric provide many opportunities for social interaction and cultural exchange among scholars and city dwellers. On the other side, campuses that are located in the city outskirts have lesser degree of human interaction. This paper concludes that it is critical to determine and understand the behaviour and interaction of humans with their social and architectural environments. Inclusion of urban design principles during master planning, zoning, and phasing of campuses can enhance the quality of space and result in healthy interaction of users with built environment. This inter-disciplinary approach requires sensitivity towards societal changes and anticipation of future demands to create new spaces, transform existing ones, or connect new with the old.