14. What Makes an Inner City Attractive Today and in the Future?—Analysis of Emotional Hotspots Using the City of Stuttgart as an Example

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With the symbolisation “Motor City Centre”, the Alliance for vibrant city centres City 21 represents the city centres’ outstanding position for the success of an entire region (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Wohnungswesen 2004). Characterised by high concentration of retail, gastronomy, cultural and leisure offers, as well as a mostly central location within an entire city, and thus easy accessibility for all residents and visitors, city centres are regarded as a central place for satisfying needs (Acocella et al. 2011; Heinritz et al. 2003). Due to the settlement of various educational institutions and the agglomeration of knowledge and information in a small space, inner cities represent the ideal location for innovative and creative companies. In times of increasing overtime, city centres are also regaining their importance as a place to live. The variety of leisure, cultural and service offers offered in the city centre, combined with short distances to one’s place of work, make it an ideal location. The wide variety in city centres not only attracts residents, but also represents an essential aspect attracting visitors (Acocella et al. 2011). However, due to economic, demographic and socio‐cultural change, large cities and their city centres are also facing a transformation process. If cities are unable to adapt to the new requirements, they might lose their attractiveness as places to live and work and as central places to satisfy needs (Weißbuch Innenstadt 2011). …