Hildesheim-Drispenstedt „Integrated measure concept“

Context

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At the beginning of the 1960s, a large housing estate for approx. 6,000 inhabitants was built in the north-east of Hildesheim (pop. 103,000), near the old site Drispenstedt. Because of social segregation, increasing tenant turnover, shortages in housing space, increasing discrimination of the people living there and shortcomings in the public space, a special need for measures for a socially integrated urban district renewal arose. In 2001, Drispenstedt was included in the Federal and State Programme “Social City”.

Project description

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The integrated measure concept for Neu-Drispenstedt has the aim of giving the urban district a new image by designing the public space and of preventing increasing neglect and vandalism. Since an above-average number of households with many children live in Drispenstedt, youths and children are the main users of public facilities and places (bus stops, benches, playgrounds). The young people use the public space especially intensively as meeting point and for image cultivation. The measure concept, developed as part of the urban district renewal, therefore puts special emphasis on the activation of children and youths. They are specifically involved in the new design and the improvement of the infrastructure, green areas and open space.

In the measure “Kinderstadtteilforscher” (Children as Urban District Explorers), a children’s urban district map was developed in autumn 2002. It documents the “good and the bad places” of the neighbourhood. Based on this, the children’s contribution to the open space concept was developed. In a “Zukunftswerkstatt” (future workshop), they developed remodelling suggestions for playgrounds. In collaboration with kindergartens and also with open space planners and artists, a play ship, a nature play area, a mosaic snake and moveable goals were built. “Patron saints” carved by the children themselves from locust trees “supervise” the new play areas.

In parallel with this, 50 youths between the age of 13 and 17 presented their view of the urban district and named the problematic points at a first “Youth Forum” in autumn 2002. In the second Youth Forum (spring 2003), suggestions for solutions and ideas for remodelling the public space were developed together with the aid of plastic models. Three so-called “loitering points” were built. These are weatherproof shelters which can offer the different youth groups a “home in the public space”. A football area, a table tennis area, street ball and skating grounds were included in the development planning. As part of a hands-on building site for youths in autumn 2003, the paving work was carried out. Additionally, an international youth camp was held, which also helped to improve the social infrastructure.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Urban district renewal and improvement
• Improvement of the social infrastructure
• Improvement of the open space qualities and revitalisation of under-used urban space
• Design of rooms ready for use for children and youths
• Reinforcement of the acquisition of public space by active social groups
• Reduction of perceptions of insecurity and actual conflicts in the use of space
• Improvement of the ability to communicate between the people responsible

Types of measures

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• Participation especially of youths and children in the design of the space (children’s urban district map, youth forums, workshops, hands-on building site)
• New or remodelling of children’s play areas and playgrounds
• Erecting youth meeting points and improvement of existing playgrounds and sports fields for youths

Funding by the Federal and State Programme “Urban Districts with Special Development Needs - Social Cities”

Innovations

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The main users of the public space in a disadvantaged neighbourhood - the children and youths - are involved in the urban district renewal by concentrated measures. With this, new functional rooms and user-oriented offers are created. Through the joint realisation, it was possible to raise the acceptance and the feeling of responsibility of the young inhabitants for the public facilities.

Sources

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• Räume in benachteiligten Quartieren (Space in disadvantaged neighbourhoods). In: Wohnbund Informationen (Housing league information) 3/2003, Öffentlich nutzbare Räume im Quartier (Publically useable space in neighbourhoods). Munich
• Habermann-Nieße, Klaus (2001): Ein Stadtteil im Aufwind. Hildesheim-Drispenstedt (An Urban District on the up. Hildesheim-Drispenstedt). In: Rothschuh, Michael. FH Hildesheim (ed.) (2001): Wege zur sozialen Stadt. Tagungsbericht (Ways to a Social City. Conference Report). Hildesheim/Göttingen
• Nieße, Brigitte; Habermann-Nieße, Klaus (2004): Integriertes Handlungskonzept für den öffentlichen Raum - Hildesheim Drispenstedt. Bewerbung um "Preis Soziale Stadt 2004“ (Integrated measure concept for public space - Hildesheim Drispenstedt. Application for “Prize for Social City 2004”). Hildesheim/Göttingen

Further information

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• http://www.hildesheim.de

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 31135 - town: Hildesheim - street: Hermann-Seeland-Straße.

Protagonists

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• Stadt Hildesheim, Fachbereich Stadtplanung und Stadtentwicklung (City of Hildesheim, Department for Urban Planning and Urban Development), Christine Söhlke, Markt 3, 31134 Hildesheim, Tel. 05121/69 09 33, Fax: -69 09 32
• Stadtteilmanagement Drispenstedt (Urban District Management Drispenstedt), Dr. Klaus Habermann-Nieße, Brigitte Nieße, Ilga Pohlmann, Ehrlicherstr: 14, 31135 Hildesheim, Tel. 05121/690933
• Sozialplanerisches Quartiersmanagement (Social-planning neighbourhood management), Frank Auracher, Ehrlicherstr: 14, 31135 Hildesheim, Tel. 05121/690934
• plan zwei, Dr. Klaus Habermann-Nieße, Morgensternweg 17a, 30419 Hannover, Tel. 0511/279495-3 Fax: 0511/279495-59, eMail: habermann-niesse@plan-zwei.com.de, Web: http://www.plan-zwei.com (photos and map)