Dinslaken-Lohberg „Ledigenheim“

Context

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The urban district of Lohberg, in the north of Dinslaken (pop. approx. 69,000), is located away from the main part of the city in an isolated location with an almost village-like character. It came into being around 1910 as a generously laid out, green working-class settlement inspired by English garden towns and located right next to the mine with the same name. The settlement was fully modernised in the 1990s and the uniform character has been maintained until today. However, high unemployment and supplementary benefit figures, high numbers of foreigners, increasing unoccupied housing, a diluted infrastructure and integration problems have led to increased need for action. In the end, Lohberg was accepted for the programme "Stadtteile mit besonderem Erneuerungsbedarf NRW" (“Urban Districts with a Special Need for Renewal NRW”) in 1999.

Project description

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The integrated action concept for the renewal of the urban district involves the conversion and reusing of a former “Ledigenheim” (home for unmarried miners) at Lohberg’s central market square. This will strengthen the local economy, reduce infrastructural deficits and improve the image and identity of the urban district. The building, with its 6,400m² of usable space, was erected between 1913 and 1915 as a home for unmarried miners. It has been used for other purposes since 1970: a branch of the Sparkasse bank, a Turkish grocery, a take-away and a pub can be found on the ground floor. The remaining space is either empty or has only been used temporarily.

In order to make the building, which is currently mainly frequented by inhabitants with a migration background, attractive for the whole population, and with that to help the German and Turkish population live together, the concept for a commercial, cultural and social centre was developed as part of the urban district work. The building is being modernised and converted, while respecting its listed status. Afterwards, retailers, service providers, German and Turkish associations, the Volkshochschule (adult education centre) and the district library will open there. The large hall will be reactivated for cultural events, celebrations and festivals and be connected to a new restaurant. The City of Dinslaken and the Forum Lohberg e.V. (a committee made up of active citizens and the urban district office) played a leading role in the development. In joint idea and planning workshops, involved business people and members of interested associations also contributed their suggestions for the conversion.

The Ledigenheim project is embedded in further measures to stabilise and improve the urban district (open areas and schoolyard improvement, making the weekly market more attractive etc.). In order to institutionalise the anchoring among citizens and in administration, politics and economics, the charitable “Stiftung Ledigenheim" (Ledigenheim Foundation) was founded. This is the organisation in charge of the project and later will operate the centre.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Stabilising the economic future by promoting the local economy (companies, retail, services)
• Improving the “urban district image” and strengthening the local identity
• Utilising self-help potential
• Developing social infrastructure (district library, adult education centre etc.)
• Offering space for urban-district initiatives, citizens and (cultural) associations
• Creating a hall for cultural events and private celebrations

Types of measures

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• Project development in idea and planning workshops
• Establishing a feasibility study
• Starting a foundation for organisation and operation
• Conversion respecting the building’s listed status
• Settlement of new and established companies and institutions

Funded by the programme "Stadtteile mit besonderem Erneuerungsbedarf NRW" (“Urban Districts with a Special Need for Renewal NRW”) (now called "Soziale Stadt NRW" (Social City NRW)) and a project of "Initiative ergreifen" (“Take the Initiative”) NRW

Innovations

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Thanks to the involvement of citizens, associations, administration and the economy, it was possible to develop a new purpose for a listed building. This equally promotes the local economy and the multi-cultual life in the urban district. The citizens’ centre, run by a foundation, offers space for culture, gastronomy and work, and enhances the urban district in general.

Sources

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• <http://forum-lohberg.de/aktionen/ledigenheim/ledigenheim.html>
• Forum Lohberg e.V. (Ed.) (2004): Lohberg auf den Punkt gebracht (Getting to the Point in Lohberg). Dinslaken
• Boll, Joachim; Dahlheimer, Achim; Walter, Daniela (Ed.) (2004): Ledigenheim Lohberg Dinslaken. In: Bürger machen Stadt. Zivilgesellschaftliches Engagement in der Stadterneuerung - Ein Projektbuch (Citizens make the city. Community involvement in urban renewal – a project book). Dortmund (photos)
• Arslanbenzer, Lale; Rauch, Janet; Stadtteilbüro (Urban District Office) (2003): Dinslaken Lohberg. In: <http://www.soziale-stadt.nrw.de/stadtteile/profil_dinslaken.html>
• City of Dinslaken (2002): Innovation Lohberg - Neues Leben für das Ledigenheim. Projektvorschlag im Rahmen des Projektaufrufs der Projekt Ruhr GmbH (Innovation Lohberg – New life for the Ledigenheim. Project proposal as part of the project appeal from Projekt Ruhr GmbH). Dinslaken
• Ministerium für Bauen und Wohnen des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (Ministry for Building and Housing for the Federal State of Nordrhein-Westphalia) (MBW) (1994): Wohnen in alten Häusern (Living in old houses). (Neues Bauen, Neues Wohnen, issue 10). Düsseldorf

Further information

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• <http://www.dinslaken-lohberg.de/>

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The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 46537 - town: Dinslaken - street: Stollenstraße 1.

Protagonists

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• The owner of the Ledigenheim is the Stiftung Ledigenheim Dinslaken-Lohberg (since January 2004), Chairman of the Foundation: Roland Golding eMail: <R.Golding@Stiftung-Ledigenheim.com> further contact person: Gülsüm Yigit eMail: <G.Yigit@Stiftung-Ledigenheim.com>, Stollenstraße 1 (entrance Lohbergstr.), 46537 Dinslaken, Tel: 02064-621930/31, Fax: 02064-621932
• City of Dinslaken, Holger Mrosek, Project Office Lohberg, Wilhelm-Lantermann-Str. 65, 46535 Dinslaken, Tel. 02064/66-215, Fax: -404, eMail: <holger.mrosek@dinslaken.de>
• City of Dinslaken, Stadtplanungsamt (City Planning Office), Wilfried Klein, Wilhelm-Lantermann-Str. 65, 46535 Dinslaken, Tel. 02064/66-371, eMail: <wilfried.klein@dinslaken.de>
• Forum Lohberg e.V. – Urban District Office: Janet Rauch, Johannesplatz 4-6, 46537 Dinslaken, Tel. 02064/477882, Fax: 02064/3999163, eMail: <janet.rauch@forum-lohberg.de>
• G.I.B. (Gesellschaft für innovative Beschäftigungsförderung – Society for Innovative Employment Promotion)
• "startklar" Projektkommunikation, Joachim Boll, Immermannstrasse 39a, 44147 Dortmund, Tel. 0231/8808593-0, Fax -9, eMail: <kontakt@startklar-prokom.de>, Web: <http://www.startklar-prokom.de>
• Architects Heinrich Böll and Hans Krabel
• Sparkasse Dinslaken-Voerde-Hünxe