Leipzig-Lindenau „Stadthalten“
The city of Leipzig is characterized by late 19th century urban quarters with a surfeit of usable gaps and wastelands. This constellation harbours new, as yet unexpected housing environment qualities. The aim should hence be to exploit this “new luxury” of overabundant space, activate areas and develop ideas for the creation of a new “Leipzig liberty”.
This project has been put into the archive. The project details will not be updated anymore.
Context
Source: Manfred Fuhrich, BBSR im BBR
The district of Lindau is located in the west of Leipzig (pop. 495.000) and was known as a popular residential area for decades. Today, the district is suffering structural problems with a high unemployment rate and significant building vacancy. Along the „Kuhturmstrasse“, a ruinous, one-storey structure was demolished in 2000 in order to create a more attractive environment for a shopping centre to be constructed and improve transport connections. But due to investment activity restraints, the planned redevelopment of these areas has not yet been realized. The project "Stadthalten" was initiated against this background in order to achieve an urban upgrading of the location until a possible redevelopment occurs.
Project description
Source: Manfred Fuhrich, BBSR im BBR
Jointly with the association „Leipziger Jahresausstellung e. V.“ (Leipzig Annual Exhibition), Leipzig council in 2001 developed the idea of staging artworks on derelict plots around the Lindenauer Markt area. In order to maximize visibility, it was decided to concentrate the measure spatially in the district centre along Kuhturmstrasse and Lindenauer Markt.
Artists and other interested parties were publicly invited to submit contributions for the available areas and gable ends. The spaces were initially meant to be used for the project for six months only and their redesign was not to contradict their possible structural development. It was possible to allow „landscaping activities“ for limited periods of time via license agreements enabling the design and public use of private properties which had fallen into disuse with the financial support of the council. The existing building permit remains untouched.
A jury selected 10 of the submitted 55 proposals for realization. Decisive selection factors included the creation of a local connection and the active involvement of residents and other local stakeholders. In summer 2002, seven of the ten artistic interventions were embedded in a functional spatial concept that would have been acceptable even without art events. Parts of the installations created still exits now owing to the positive reaction. In summer 2003, „stadthalten“ became „Stadtgang“ (city walk), which included the opening of the „Kollektion Lindenau“ as an eighth contribution. The project’s approval culminated in the special urban architecture award “Städtebausonderpreis 2004” dedicated to "Temporary Uses for Urban Spaces".
Project preparation and management was financed from "URBAN II" funds and the realization of the outline concept from urban development funds. The artistic contributions were realized with the help of sponsors. The installations still existing are maintained by Leipzig Council's district service which is part of a local job creation initiative.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
2002 | Artists’ competition, opening with seven realized projects |
2002 | 2nd prize at EUROCITIES AWARD in the category „Culture as a Promotional Instrument in Urban Development” |
2003 | District festival, opening of the follow-up project „Stadtgang“ |
2004 | Special urban architecture award “Temporary Uses for Urban Spaces" |
2004 | Follow-up project “Householding” (http://www.haushalten.org) |
Aims
Source: C. Eisler, Stadt Leipzig
- More greenery and less density in the city
- Development of new, individually designed residential environments
- Re-integration of attractive open and green spaces in the townscape
- Stable block edge design with plenty of greenery
Types of measures
- Open competition for the artistic design of derelict plots
- Project realization based on license agreements
- Attracting private sponsorship funds
- Maintaining the areas as part of a job creation scheme
- District festival
- Follow-up projects
Innovations
Gaps between buildings and wastelands were reintroduced to public perception via artistic installations and reintegrated in the public urban space via subsequent uses.
Sources
- Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Wohnungswesen (Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs) (client), Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (Federal Office for Construction and Spatial Planning) (ed.); the landscape architects „StadtBüro Hunger; Becker, Giseke, Mohren, Richard Landschaftsarchitekten“; the development association „DSK Deutsche Stadt- und Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH“ (contractor): Zwischennutzung und neue Freiflächen. Städtische Lebensräume der Zukunft (Interim Use and New Open Spaces. Urban Habitats of the Future.). Berlin, 2004
- http://www.urban-leipzig.de
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 04177 - town: Leipzig - street: Kuhturmstraße 1.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/2XPTWhUTseS2
Last update: 28.03.2018