Chemnitz „DAStietz“
The former Tietz department store in the inner city of Chemnitz has been converted into a cultural centre housing various educational and cultural institutions thus having put life into the inner city and having increased its functionality.
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Context
Source: Claudia Marx
Since the end of the 1990s, the inner city of Chemnitz has been undergoing a dynamic development process. Several master plans have been drawn up and several competitions for the realisation of various squares carried out. Several office, business and administrative buildings and shopping arcades have been newly built. In terms of retail trade, the inner city of Chemnitz is though competing with decentralised locations.
Project description
Source: Das TIETZ - Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Chemnitz
Tietz, a department store built in 1912/1913 in the inner city, originally had a retail area of around 10,300 square metres. With the main bus stop in front of the building close to "Bahnhofstraße", it is well connected to local public transport. Following the German reunification, in 1991, the property was purchased by the Kaufhof AG group and used by it until 2001. In the context of newly designing the inner city, the Kaufhof branch moved from the Tietz building to the new, so-called “glass department store”.
The City of Chemnitz (243,000 inhabitants) tried to organise the further use of the building before it fell vacant. Already before the property was abandoned in 2001, the city council of Chemnitz had decided to establish the local adult education centre, the municipal library and the museum of natural history in the building. The dominance of public institutions within the adaptive reuse concept resulted from the long existing need to integrate the municipal library and the adult education centre into an adequate architectural framework. The association “Neue Chemnitzer Kunsthütte e.V.” furthermore decided to move with the “Neue Sächsische Galerie” museum into the so-called “DAStietz” building. The focus on cultural uses seemed to become a successful development model. At the same time, all parties involved agreed that a commercial establishment on the ground floor would also be an important factor for success.
The property was purchased by a municipal company, Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft m.b.H. Chemnitz (GGG), and is managed as a municipal owner-operated enterprise. The GGG, which is experienced in the field of project development, was also entrusted with developing and implementing the project.
Following conversion, the former Tietz department store was reopened in October 2004 as cultural department store under the name of “DAStietz”. The refurbished listed historical building is currently used by the local adult education centre, the library as well as by two museums. The ground floor was designed like a shopping arcade. It also houses a café and retail shops.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
From 1991 | Tietz department store being used by Kaufhof AG |
2001 | Decision of the city council for the property to be reused by the local adult education centre, the library, the museum of natural history. Building abandoned. Former Tietz department store purchased by “Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft mbH Chemnitz (GGG)” |
2002-2004 | Building converted |
2004 | Reopened as cultural department store “DAStietz“ housing “Neuer Sächsischer Galerie” (museum), the museum of natural history, the adult education centre and the library. Operations of municipal owner-operated enterprise “DAStietz” started |
Aims
Source: Das TIETZ - Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Chemnitz
- To concentrate various different municipal educational and cultural institutions on a central site in the inner city
- To provide premises for municipal facilities
- To put new life into the inner city by establishing additional (differentiating) functions
Types of measures
Source: Das TIETZ - Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Chemnitz
- Inner city in general: Since the end of the 1990, various master plans for the city centre and competitions for the realisation of inner city squares
- DAStietz: Decision of city council to use the former Tietz department store for several municipal institutions
- Former Tietz department store purchased by Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft mbH Chemnitz (GGG)
- Planning, implementing and managing the overall conversion process
- Cultural department store “DAStietz” opened and municipal owner-operated enterprise founded
Innovations
Source: Das TIETZ - Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Chemnitz
The City of Chemnitz tried to find another use for the former Tietz department store in good time already before the site was abandoned. It thus determined the course for a smooth change of use of the building thus avoiding the potentially negative impacts of a possible vacancy.
Due to the fact that the City of Chemnitz had been looking for areas for several public institutions and that the municipal library and the adult education centre had for some time been intended to move to the new premises, the City of Chemnitz decided to purchase the property.
The combination of educational facilities, arts and cultural locations as well as commercial uses has considerably contributed to the attractiveness and success of the adaptive reuse concept. DAStietz has become established as a cultural location.
Due to the adaptive reuse concept, the former department store, which shapes the urban scenery and is listed for preservation, could be maintained. With its use mixture, it stimulates the inner city life sustainably.
Sources
Source: Klaus Ruttloff
- Information system of the City of Chemnitz concerning the use of the Tietz department store
- Junker und Kruse, Dortmund (2011) on behalf of the BBSR: Kurzexpertisen zum Nutzungswandel stadtentwicklungsrelevanter Großimmobilien und Umnutzungsoptionen an innerstädtischen Standorten (Short expert’s report dealing with the changed uses of large properties relevant in the context of urban development and with options for inner city sites to reuse buildings (not published)
Other sources (based on the sources above):
- Innovationsagentur Stadtumbau NRW (2010) (web forum for information on the German Urban Restructuring in West Germany programme): Projekt der Woche DAStietz 06. April 2010 (project of the week “DAStietz). >> more information (70kB, PDF, access: 16 June 2011) (in German)
- Seniorenkolleg an der TU Chemnitz (2004): Sanierung und Umbau des Kaufhauses Tietz, eine Herausforderung für Architekten und Bauingenieure (Seniors College at Technical University of Chemnitz (2004): Refurbishing and converting Tietz department store, a challenge for architects and civil engineers) >> more information (150kB, PDF, access: 25 March 2013) (in German)
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 09111 - town: Chemnitz - street: Moritzstraße 20.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/NzZQrQS4a9F2
Last update: 05.02.2018