Castrop-Rauxel-Ickern „AGORA“
On the site of a former coal mine the Greek community and the Protestant Church established a international centre for culture and encounter and a amphitheatre, which by now are administered only by the Greek Community.
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Context
Source: Manfred Vollmer, Essen
After closure of the coal mine Ickern I/II in the north of Castrop-Rauxel (pop. 79,000) in the 1970s, an industrial area was to emerge on the grounds. For this reason, the largest share of the existing buildings was demolished. The Greek community took over the former mine entrance building directly next to the working class settlement Ickern-Nord in 1985. The community members converted the building into a community centre themselves.
Project description
Source: Manfred Vollmer, Essen
At the end of the 1980s, the industrial area on the mining grounds was to be separated from the neighbouring residential settlement by a noise protection wall. This led to the idea of placing this earth wall in a semi-circular form and with this to win additional area for the community centre. The Greek community purchased this plot of land.
Since the beginning of 1997, ideas had been developed as part of the Internationale Bauausstellung IBA (International Building Exhibition) Emscher-Park, to supplement the existing centre with the new building for a culture café and an amphitheatre, which was recessed into the earthen wall, and to extend it into an international culture and social centre with the name AGORA. In a planning procedure similar to a competition, the draft for a half-round, open theatre made of sandstone blocks emerged, which is directed and opened to the existing community centre in the old building and the new culture café. The theatre offers space for 600 guests. The new two-storey building stands right next to the theatre rounding and features a modern architectural style. In this building structure there is, next to the café, an event room for up to 80 people with a small stage and two seminar rooms.
The new building, the amphitheatre and the adjacent open areas with play area and relaxation garden were developed by the Greek community and unemployed youths of different nationalities as part of a qualification programme. Employees of the Greek community district of Herne operate the centre and carry out social counselling, educational and cultural events there. As part of this international cooperation, a new “socio-cultural location” has emerged in Castrop-Rauxel Ickern. The urban district and culture centre is used for public cultural events, seminars, meetings and urban district festivals just as much as for church festivals of the Greek orthodox community.
The AGORA culture centre has established itself as a recreation area and attraction point for culture and leisure.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
1985 | The Greek community takes over the former coal mine building |
1997/1998 | Project development for the AGORA culture centre by the Greek community and Evangelic church |
1999/2000 | Completion of construction of the extension |
End 2000 | Opening of the amphitheatre and the culture café |
2001 | Start of operation |
2001-2004 | Integration project on “cultural integration of foreigners and ethnic German emigrants“ from the Ministry of internal affairs (Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI)) |
2001 | Robert-Jungk-Award 2001 for intercultural and trendsetting commitment, honoured as “future workshop” |
2002 | Award within the competition “Integration of immigrants” |
2003 | Acquisition of the daily childminder intermediation and qualification of the city Castrop-Rauxel |
2004-2007 | Installation of the “AGORA youth culture CLUB” and Award as “best practice-project” from the Federal association for “Evangelic juvenile social work” |
2005 | 12 month qualification project “cross-media basics for film, funk and TV” |
2006 | Acquisition of the sponsorship for the open cultural children and youth work |
2007 | Marketing Award of Castrop-Rauxel for extraordinary intercultural and integrative Commitment |
2008 | Start of the project “communication media in the everyday world” and continuation with “Missing link” |
2009 | Acquisition of the sponsorship for “Reading advancement for the children of Castrop-Rauxel” |
Aims
Source: Griechische Gemeinde Castrop-Rauxel e.V.
- Setting up an urban district, community and culture centre
- Creating a social centre for people of different nationalities
- Integration and socio-cultural care of migrants
- Improving intercultural understanding
Types of measures
Source: Manfred Vollmer, Essen
- Community involvement of migrant and German citizens
- Conversion of a coal mine building into a community centre
- Building a new culture café and an amphitheatre
- Improvement of the open areas
- Social counselling, educational and cultural work for migrants and Germans
- Employment and qualification of youths
Project of the programme "Initiative ergreifen" (“take the initiative”) NRW and Robert Jungk prize winner 2001 of the Städte-Netzwerk (Urban Network) NRW
Innovations
Source: Manfred Vollmer, Essen
Community involvement and cooperation of active Greek and German citizens are particularly to be highlighted in this project. The Greek community created a representative place on their own initiative, which is open to all residents of the urban district. This way, the new culture centre contributes to understanding and intercultural exchange. With its functional and aesthetic qualities, the centre enriches the community infrastructure in Castrop-Rauxel.
Sources
- Klute, Jürgen; Papaspyrou, Spyros; Schulte, Lioba (Ed.) (2004): AGORA. Von der Kohle zum Amphitheater (From coal to an amphitheatre). (Gronemeyer, R. et al.: Fremde Nähe (foreign closeness). Beiträge zur interkulturellen Diskussion (Contributions to the intercultural discussion), volume 17). Castrop-Rauxel
- Ev. Church District of Herne (without year): Internationales Begegnungs- und Kulturzentrum (International Social and Culture Centre). Zeche (mine) Ickern I/II. Castrop-Rauxel
- Boll, Joachim; Dahlheimer, Achim; Walter, Daniela (Ed.) (2004): AGORA Kulturzentrum Castrop-Rauxel (AGORA Culture Centre in Castrop-Rauxel). In: Bürger machen Stadt. Zivilgesellschaftliches Engagement in der Stadterneuerung - Ein Projektbuch (Citizens make the city: Civil involvement in urban modernisation – a project book). Dortmund (photos)
- Städte-Netzwerk (Urban Network) (2001): Die Zukunftsprojekte (The Projects for the Future). Robert Jungk Prize 2001. Düsseldorf
- Ministerium für Arbeit, Soziales und Stadtentwicklung, Kultur und Sport (Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs and Urban Development) of the state of NRW (2000): Nachhaltige Stadtentwicklungsprojekte umsetzen. Landesweiter Wettbewerb (Implementing Sustainable Urban Development Projects. State-wide competition) 1999 in NRW. Düsseldorf
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 44581 - town: Castrop-Rauxel - street: Zechenstraße 2A.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/JP8sxchbaED2
Last update: 05.02.2018