ABSTRACT

This chapter clarifies current issues in German city development at various scales and discussing the themes of child and youth participation in Germany today. It presents methods of built environment education (BEE) which teach children and young people about the built environment. The chapter discusses the obstacles to children's participation in urban planning. It then introduces the work of Jugend Architektur Stadt e.V. (JAS) to provide a window into BEE practice and how it can help prepare children and young people for more effective participation. BEE is as multifaceted as its subject: the built, designed environment. It incorporates a broad field of activities, focuses and approaches to education such as environmental, architectural, design and arts education, mostly for children and young people. The JAS is a non-profit organization which promotes BEE and the participation of children and young people in urban planning and design.