Weißwasser „Süd“

Context

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The prefab estate „Weißwasser-Süd“ on the southern urban fringes is particularly affected by the population shrinkage experienced by the town of Weißwasser (from 37.000 residents in 1987 to around 22.000 now). This is where the extensive demolition of housing estates was started in the year 2000. Approximately 2.200 apartments were to be demolished until the end of 2005. A unique feature of the settlement is the fact that it neighbours on the open-cast mining operation Nochten, which will approach the town down to a distance of approximately 500 m and accompany Weißwasser with all its consequences for decades to come. Following the conclusion of the open-cast mining operation, the site will be converted into a landscape or nature protection area, respectively, into which the site on the town fringes will be integrated. The planning for this has not yet been concluded.

Project description

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The town council unanimously passed the integrated urban development concept in November 2001. The concept also includes the demolition concept for „Weißwasser-Süd". The south-western periphery of the town will hence move towards its centre in the wake of an extensive demolition of prefab buildings. The town is shrinking from the outside to the inside. The design of the areas becoming available is to be combined with the design of the landscape replacing the open-cast mining operation. The plans include a complete reforestation of the areas, forests are to be created. Topsoil application and the first planting activities for the future mixed woodland have already commenced. In the next four years, the current landlords, the Housing Society Weißwasser and the Housing Cooperative Weißwasser, will continue to own the areas and undertake the maintenance of the development. It is being envisaged that the reforested areas will subsequently be transferred to the forest ranger service.
For the overall urban situation, the demolition included in the integrated urban development concept has the effect that Weißwasser returns to old town identities and its former middle and hence pursues a new orientation in the town centre. The attractiveness and functionality of the areas around the town centre is enhanced and brought to the foreground. The connections established during the elaboration of the integrated urban development concept between various entrepreneurs, authorities, residents and associations are strengthened in order to jointly manage the tasks lying ahead. The project realization is supported by the fact that Weißwasser is an urban restructuring model town in the Free State of Saxony. The most important agencies for returning the areas to a natural state are the housing developers and Vattenfall Europe mining AG, in close cooperation with the Saxony State Forestry Office. As the project was included in the international architectural exhibition “IBA Fürst-Pückler-Land”, the urban restructuring in Weißwasser attracts a great amount of public attention.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Integrating the population decline and demographic development in the town's long-term planning
• Stabilizing the town within its new borders
• Adjusting social, transport and utility features to the changed situation
• Maintenance or improvement, respectively, of the available retail, culture, leisure and sports amenities
• Safeguarding existing jobs and/or establishing new businesses

Types of measures

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• Integrated urban development concept including demolition concept for “Weißwasser-Süd”
• Continuous coordination of measures between council and state authorities and the apartment owners
• Extensive demolition of prefab buildings
• Topsoil application and reforestation as mixed woodlands

Innovations

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Moving the town border inward and returning the now fallow town periphery to a natural state are consistent and far-reaching urban restructuring measures.

Sources

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• Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Wohnungswesen (Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs) (client), Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (Federal Office of 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

Further information

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http://www.weisswasser.de

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 02943 - town: Weißwasser - street: Geschwister-Scholl-Straße, Sachsendamm und Werner-Seelenbinder-Straße.

Protagonists

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• WGW - Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Weißwasser e.G., Puschkinstraße 26, 02943 Weißwasser, tel.: +49(0)3576 / 288 30, http://www.wgw-weisswasser.de
• WBG - Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Weißwasser mbH, Lutherstraße 66, 02943 Weißwasser, tel.: +49(0)3576 / 27800
• Vattenfall Europe Mining AG, http://www.vattenfall.de
• Local state forestry department „Sächsisches Forstamt Weißwasser“, August-Bebel-Straße 49, 02943 Weißwasser, tel.:+49(0)3576 / 2166 0
• Stadtverwaltung Weißwasser/O.L. (Weißwasser Council), SG Stadtplanung/Liegenschaften (department of town planning / real estate), Marktplatz, 02943 Weißwasser, department manager Herr Krahl, tel.: +49(0)3576 / 265 410, http://www.weisswasser.de
• International architectural exhibition „Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) Fürst-Pückler-Land 2000-2010“, http://www.iba-see.de