International centre in an urban district
(North-Rhine Westphalia)
Photography: 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.
Photography: 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.
| 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” |
Photography: Griechische Gemeinde Castrop-Rauxel e.V.
Photography: Manfred Vollmer, Essen
Project of the programme "Initiative ergreifen" (“take the initiative”) NRW and Robert Jungk prize winner 2001 of the Städte-Netzwerk (Urban Network) NRW
Photography: 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.
The project location can be directly translated into Google-maps. Project in Google-Maps
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 44581 - town: Castrop-Rauxel - street: Zechenstraße 2A.
Record inserted on 11.10.2004 by Lehrstuhl für Planungstheorie und Stadtplanung, RWTH Aachen and updated by theFederal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).
Last update: 01.03.2010