At various points throughout the district, the 'Metaphysics of Place' came alive through historical reflections, monuments, and cultural remnants. Yet, the contemporary quarter also invites speculation: how will freedom be practiced here in the future?
This project seminar is a collaboration between the University of Stuttgart (under the direction of Felix Heidenreich), PH Ludwigsburg (led by Ragnar Müller), and Merz Academy (headed by Maria Mohr and Peter Ott). Over the coming months, it will engage both scientifically and creatively with the theme of future freedoms, using the Hospitalviertel as an empirical case study and living laboratory. The Hospitalviertel's unique character lies in its complexity: this richness is reflected not only in the myriad names historically attributed to the area but also in the visible and invisible processes of urban development.
The seminar is part of the "Future Freedoms" project, supported by the BMBF Science Year 2024. In this initiative, we are exploring innovative forms of science communication. Students from political science and the film department will collaborate to develop and produce speculative documentary films inspired by insights from the Hospitalviertel. The Yet-To-Be-Realized will serve as a springboard for explorations and speculations regarding future freedoms in the district. Voices from local citizens will be included, providing diverse perspectives on everyday practices of freedom.
At the end of the project in autumn/winter 2024, the resulting films will be showcased and discussed as part of the Film & Discourse series.
