Fabienne Hoelzel

Prof. Fabienne Hoelzel is a Professor of Design and Urban Planning at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, leading the Chair of Urban Design. Her work focuses on democratic, inclusive urbanization processes, contested territories, and resource-scarce environments, with case studies in Lagos, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Mumbai, Jerusalem, Gaza, and Stuttgart. She founded FABULOUS URBAN (2013) and its Nigeria Foundation (2021) to address slum upgrading through research-led design.

• Key Themes: feminist urbanism, decolonial approaches, climate-responsiveness, and conflict resolution.
• Current Projects: urbanizing Dadaab refugee camps (Kenya), feminist design scenarios for Lagos, and stakeholder-driven revitalization of Stuttgart’s Rosenstein site.

Her research trends emphasize community-based governance, hybrid urban policies, and gender-sensitive planning. Recent scientific awards include the 2021 Svizra27 Labor Ludens 1st Place and the 2019 DAAD Research Scholarship. She collaborates with Kenyatta University, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, and DAAD, integrating intercultural cooperation in teaching. The chair’s exhibitions (e.g., Venice Biennale 2023) highlight innovative urban solutions for global challenges.