MachmalPlatz – Shaping the City Together

How It All Began

The initiative MachmalPlatz emerged from an eight-week ideas workshop held as part of the EU project Foster. It brings together people who live and work in the Parkviertel neighborhood: residents, civil society actors, and local government staff. Together, they develop temporary solutions for climate-adapted living in the neighborhood – and accompany their implementation on site.

Our Goals

The aim is to strengthen Parkviertel as a space for living and learning across generations. Through themes such as urban nature and climate resilience, students from the Möwensee School and residents of all ages are encouraged to meet, exchange ideas, and take action together on Manga-Bell-Platz.

The initiative lays the foundation for long-term engagement with urban nature in and around the square – turning it into a place that is not only functional, but also emotionally meaningful to the community.

Why Manga-Bell-Platz?

Manga-Bell-Platz holds great potential as a space for exchange, relaxation, and community action – yet it has remained underused. The renaming of the square was a source of uncertainty and mixed experiences for many. MachmalPlatz aims to foster new, positive associations and help the neighborhood reconnect with the square as a vibrant and shared public space.

From Idea to Implementation

Which Ideas Were Chosen?

The initiative invited over 20 classes from Möwensee Primary School to develop and present their ideas for the square. These were complemented by more than 50 contributions from local residents. Based on this rich pool of ideas, the team developed the first prototypes – designed to turn the square into a space that meets community needs as both a place to live and learn.

Taking Action – Without Waiting for Funding

Rather than relying on large budgets or lengthy grant processes, MachmalPlatz encourages local initiative. Everyone involved contributes what they can: time, practical skills, materials, or helpful networks. This allowed the first small projects to be implemented quickly and without bureaucracy.

The result: meaningful change can happen even without major resources – when people take ownership and work together toward shared goals.

A Collaborative Project from the Start

From the beginning, MachmalPlatz has brought together a wide range of stakeholders: local residents, initiatives, schools, associations – and the city administration. Open dialogue, regular meetings, and transparent communication have created a foundation of trust and cooperation.

The local administration joined the process early and responded to the initiative with openness and support. This collaboration on equal footing enabled pragmatic solutions and strengthened shared responsibility for public space.

Participation That Becomes Visible

Collecting Ideas – Online and on Site

All ideas collected during the project are documented on the website:
machmalplatz.org/category/mangabellplatz/

There, you’ll find contributions from school classes and many suggestions from residents – including sketches, drawings, and detailed proposals for the future of the square.

A particularly important point of contact was the local bakery on the square. Actively supporting the process, the bakery hosted a public idea box, allowing residents to submit their thoughts and wishes anonymously and without any digital barriers. The response was overwhelming – the high number of submissions reflected strong interest in the square and its development.

All contributions were carefully documented, published online, and discussed further in public meetings. This created a growing and evolving collection of community-generated ideas.

A Model for the Future

MachmalPlatz is a powerful example of successful civic participation. It demonstrates that urban development doesn’t have to come exclusively from planning offices or top-down decision-making. It can grow from the community itself – if people are taken seriously and provided with the right structures and support.

The project encourages similar approaches in other neighborhoods and cities. When diverse perspectives are brought together and people collaborate on real solutions, the result is not just physical transformation – but also new trust, new connections, and a new understanding of how we shape and share our public spaces.