From 3 to 7 August 2026, The City of Mannheim hosted a five-day Summer School dedicated to exploring the potential of multifunctional rooftops. Organised in cooperation with SRH University Heidelberg as part of MultiRoofs, the event brought together around 30 participants, including international students, university mentors, project experts and local stakeholders. Through interdisciplinary teamwork, site visits and interactive workshops, participants explored how underused rooftops could be transformed into more sustainable, resilient and multifunctional urban spaces.
Addressing Mannheim's urban challenges
Like many European cities, Mannheim faces growing challenges related to urban heat, limited green space and increasing pressure on available land, particularly in its dense city centre. At the same time, many rooftops remain underused, offering valuable opportunities for climate adaptation and new urban functions. To explore this potential, students worked in interdisciplinary teams on real buildings and rooftop sites across Mannheim. Supported by experts and local stakeholders, they developed innovative, site-specific concepts combining biodiversity, renewable energy, rainwater management and new social and cultural spaces.
From creative ideas to more concrete proposals
The Summer School concluded with a “Market of Ideas”, where students presented their concepts for reimagining Mannheim's rooftops. Among the proposals, ARTop – Raising Art Above The City envisioned transforming rooftops around Mannheim's museum complex into connected cultural and social spaces featuring greenery, exhibition areas and renewable energy.
Another concept, Green-Blue Rooftop Infrastructure, explored how rooftop greening, rainwater management and renewable energy could be combined to strengthen urban climate resilience. Together, these proposals illustrated the diversity of possible rooftop functions and demonstrated how innovative solutions could respond to real urban challenges.
Looking ahead: unlocking the potential of urban rooftops
Beyond the concepts developed, the Summer School highlighted the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and international exchange in addressing urban challenges. For MultiRoofs, the event provided an opportunity to connect the project's objectives with real-life urban conditions and generate fresh perspectives on multifunctional rooftop use. The resulting ideas offer inspiration for future discussions with property owners and local stakeholders, contributing to the broader ambition of making European cities greener, more resilient and more liveable.