Art intervention on wasteland
(Saxony)
Photography: 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.
Photography: 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.
| Jahr | Ereignis |
|---|---|
| 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) |
Source: C. Eisler, Stadt Leipzig
Gaps between buildings and wastelands were reintroduced to public perception via artistic installations and reintegrated in the public urban space via subsequent uses.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 04177 - town: Leipzig - street: Kuhturmstraße 1.
Record inserted on 17.01.2006 by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).
Last update: 16.02.2009
