Guest Lecture as Part of the SPRING International Planning Sessions

Title: The Land, The Law, The Lawn:
How urban planning perpetuates colonial thinking in Africa’s cities

Speaker: Dr. Alexander Jachnow
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: GB I, Room 410

Postcolonial ‘modern’ planning systems are still regarded as the status quo and as a prerequisite for keeping pace with global development, yet they position African cities as subordinate in the world economy while reinforcing colonial spatial practices. This lecture examines space, governance, and cultural alienation to assess how deeply these systems must transform to deliver meaningful change.

Dr. Alexander Jachnow works on sustainable and just urbanization globally, with topics such as urban policies, governance and planning. He is a team lead in international projects, a researcher and lecturer for City Transitions. His long-term assignments brought him to Nepal, India and Bangladesh, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and recently to Namibia. He is a graduate from Berlin TU and holds a specialization in Housing Studies from UNAM/ Mexico City. His PhD examined the role of civil society in urban development and housing.

The event is open to students, doctoral researchers, and all interested colleagues.

We look forward to your participation!