Reshaping of cleared site of a former department store
(Brandenburg)
Source: Plankontor GmbH
One focus of the urban development in Neuruppin is the improvement of the housing surroundings in the Housing Complex I-III area with buildings made from prefabricated slabs as part of the promotion of urban development. Approx. 10,000 people live there, which is almost one third of the population of Neuruppin (pop. 32,000).
The area lies south of the historical town centre and consists of 4,500 flats in three building sectors. Unoccupied housing is low and stable at around 3%. This, however, disguises difficult social structures that arise as part of segregation processes and worsen. Many people with higher incomes leave the urban district since the area has a one-sided housing range (80% 2 to 3-room flats).
In the past years, it was possible to achieve a wide range of housing surrounding improvements in cooperation with the three housing associations and with a good response from the inhabitants. The reshaping and opening of the schoolyard areas are of special importance for the quality of life. A former nursery will be converted into an urban district house, “Krümelkiste”. Starting point for including the yard areas in the improvement of the housing surroundings was the preliminary planning by the office plankontor GmbH on the basis of the existing framework plan.
Source: Plankontor GmbH
A special urban development deficiency in the region are areas of former and largely vacant department stores. The structural condition hardly allows an economic re-use of the department stores. The marketing efforts of TLG IMMOBILIEN GmbH as owner of the department store had remained unsuccessful. Furthermore, subsequent re-uses probably would have become a nuisance for the housing environment because of the structural density in this area. The surroundings of the department store were almost completely sealed apart from smaller private yard space in the area of the surrounding housing stock of the Neuruppiner Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (NWG) (Housing Association). Random parking and lacking design characterised the overall picture. Valuable space that could be used as housing surroundings was not sufficiently present.
The inhabitants were involved in the preliminary planning, which made the wish for a common space for spending time and communication clear. The city was, however, unable to finance the purchase from its own funds. In 2002, the Neuruppiner Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (NWG) decided to purchase the plot of land with the aim of realising the design of the surroundings. In autumn 2003, the department store between F.-Maecker-Straße and Junckerstraße was knocked down. It had been vacant for years and showed considerable deterioration.
The demolition was funded to 80% as a regulatory measure from the urban development assistance programme “Weiterentwicklung der Großen Neubaugebiete in den neuen Bundesländern" (Further development of the large development areas in the new Federal States).
After the demolition of the former department store, an open space was created as a supplement to the already completed design measures in the adjacent house yards. It offers the inhabitants a generous lawn. Additionally, with consideration of the predominantly elderly inhabitants, a bowling/boccia space was created. Any inhibitions for the usage are shortly to be reduced by a party for the tenants. New space for drying laundry is already being used intensively.
Furthermore, inactive traffic in the housing area has been newly regulated with the building of new parking spaces. Path connections were supplemented and completed. Large foundlings and cherry trees border a square with benches.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Vacancy of the department store in the Housing Complex I |
| 1999 | Preliminary planning with citizen involvement for the new design of the yard |
| 2002 | Acquisition of the department store area by the Neuruppiner Wohnungsbaugesellschaft NWG |
| 2003 | Demolition of the department store |
| 2005 | Conversion and design of the cleared space to a green area |
Source: Plankontor GmbH
Source: Plankontor GmbH
The inhabitants of the adjacent flats were involved early as part of the project. Their wishes became the basis of the plans. Through the commitment of a housing association, wasteland was made useable for the public.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 16816 - town: Neuruppin - street: Franz-Maecker-Strasse/Junckerstraße.
Record inserted on 14.03.2007 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: 24.08.2010
