With citizen commitment from wasteland to park
(Brandenburg)
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
The "Schiebefläche" is to the east of the centre of Vetschau (pop. 9,200), between two industrially erected housing complexes. It takes its name from its former function as an earth and construction materials store. The area of around 4 ha was characterised by numerous earth deposits and corresponding vegetation.
The leitmotifs of the plan were the close integration of future users, a functional design in the area of open spaces with the existing vegetation to be retained as much as possible. Not least, the costs should be considerably reduced compared to the first planning ideas.
The design of the public park and the upgrading of a neighbouring school have been supported as one of 11 model urban development projects by the State of Brandenburg. The education and leisure complex also includes a newly built solar sports hall at the low energy standard.
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
As part of the development of the ideas for the "Schiebefläche", Vetschau carried out a workshop procedure in respect of the planning and design. The process took place in March and April 2004 and involved three planning partnerships, each comprising a landscape architect and an artist. The three workshop meetings involved pupils and school managers, representatives from the Brandenburg Ministry for Infrastructure and Planning, the Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus (BTU) and the Vetschau council. The process was designed and coordinated by Brandenburgische Beratungsgesellschaft für Stadterneuerung und Modernisierung mbH (B.B.S.M.). Youths documented the process in a film project.
As a result of the intensive participation of pupils, the elderly and other users during the planning and implementation process, and through the involvement of Naturschutzbund e.V. (NABU) and Biosphärenreservate Spreewald e.V., the plan changed into a natural design for the space.
During the implementation, a large proportion of the existing vegetation was retained in the final planning concept. Structural measures were also reduced as much as possible. The future users preferred a simple, natural design for paths and rest areas. As a result, the total costs were reduced to less than Euro 100,000. Euro 1.4 million was estimated for the originally planned, expensively designed urban park.
As a result of the redevelopment of the space, not just two adjacent neighbourhoods were sustainably upgraded. The art objects integrated into the park, such as the tree sculpture "Trilogie Sanduhr" (Egg-timer trilogy), a bench in Birkenhain formed from a tree trunk, and the round bench designed by school pupils, are particularly important.
At the sane time, a high level of identification of Vetschau resident with the park has been achieved. This is reflected in the intensive adoption of the "Schiebfläche". Not least, the campaign days and sponsorships between town, schools and senior council are helping to reduce the costs for maintaining the public park.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2002 | Start of initial planning |
| From October 2003 | Realignment of the project within the framework of a workshop process; then new planning |
| April 2006 | Start of construction |
| June 2007 | Inauguration |
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
The Vetschau model project combines important aspects of sustained urban development. It is a good example of cost-saving and ecological planning and construction when redeveloping open spaces.
Despite lower costs, the "Schiebefläche" has become an open space with high quality design and function. Finally, the intensive involvement of the citizens in the planning, the structural implementation and the future maintenance of the open space is a positive example.
Photography: B.B.S.M. mbh, Potsdam
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 03226 - town: Vetschau - street: Kraftwerkstraße (gegenüber Haus Nr. 2).
Record inserted on 01.09.2008 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: 17.08.2009
