Nürtingen „Old Eel-Grass Spinning Mill“

Context

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Nürtingen (pop. 39.000) features an active cultural scene whose commitment to the demands of children and adolescents started as early as the 1980s. The association „Freies Kinderhaus Nürtingen“ (Free Children’s House) was established in 1985 as a sponsoring agency. The „Children’s Culture Workshop“ created by the association in 1995 aims to provide an open facility for schoolchildren. The workshop operates a crèche and has been involved in cultural, educational and child politics since its foundation.

Project description

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The association „Freies Kinderhaus“ rented the site of the former eel-grass spinning mill as a new domicile for the “Children’s Culture Workshop" in 1999. The listed 19th century industrial ensemble was then extensively renovated and converted into a cultural and social centre. The new function simultaneously facilitated the preservation of an important monument of industrial history.

The area is situated by a brook near the town centre within walking distance from the station and the central bus terminal as well as in the catchment areas of several schools. By virtue of the integrated urban location, the project addresses children and adolescents throughout the entire town.

A central element of the amenity is the “Culture Canteen”, a public, child- and family-friendly restaurant with two halls which can be rented. The building’s ground floor furthermore houses a crèche, a metalworking and a carpentry workshop. Artist’s studios, seminar and office rooms for associations and the field office of the child welfare organization “Paritätisches Jugendwerk Baden-Württemberg” are accommodated on the upper floors. In combination with the activities of other residents, the diverse support and recreation services offered by the children’s culture workshop provide a highly varied programme. Of central importance are open and creative amenities furnishing visitors with opportunities for independent and self-governing play and creativity.

The inner courtyard, formerly used as a parking lot, was turned into a play and recreation area and has, in combination with the adjacent skater grounds and soccer field, become a popular meeting place. Most of the construction work was performed by the association and on an honorary basis. As part of a job creation scheme, 10 young adults and long-term unemployed individuals were provided with professional qualifications. Trainees and adolescents required to perform work hours by the juvenile court were also involved in the conversion. The extent of the honorary commitment and the largesse of businesses and private individuals allowed the project to be realized largely without public funding. The only subsidies to be provided were from the State Department of Historical Monuments „Landesdenkmalamt“ and the State Monument Foundation "Landesdenkmalstiftung".

Project chronology

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Year	Event
1991	Foundation of the “Kinder-Kultur-Werkstatt”
March 1999	Rental of the building formerly housing the eel-grass spinning mill
October 2001	Opening of the “KulturKantine”
February 2002	Conclusion of conversion measures

Aims

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• Creation of a cultural and social centre for families
• Designing a location where children and their interests are taken seriously
• Preservation of valuable building stock

Types of measures

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• Rental and conversion of a listed industrial ensemble by the association "Freies Kinderhaus”
• Qualification of young adults during the redevelopment
• Opening of the association’s public restaurant “KulturKantine”
• Concentrating various activities for children and adolescents in one place
• Change of use of the inner courtyard into a play and leisure space

Winner of the 1st prize in the Baden-Württemberg state competition “Living with Children – Public Spaces, Housing, Play Areas” (Wohnen mit Kindern - öffentliche Räume, Wohnräume, Spielräume" Baden Württemberg) in 2001/2002

Innovations

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The conversion of the listed eel-grass spinning mill successfully created a child- and youth-oriented community centre. The concentration of diverse initiatives and institutions turned the site into a popular meeting place for the urban population. The honorary commitment shown in the conversion and utilization of the former factory is an expression of exemplary child and youth work.

Sources

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• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Baden-Württembergische Bausparkassen (Working Group of Baden-Württemberg Building Societies) (2002): Wohnen mit Kindern. Öffentliche Räume/Wohnräume/Spielräume (Living With Children. Public Spaces, Housing, Play Areas). Schwäbisch-Hall

Further information

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• http://www.seegrasspinnerei.de/

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 72622 - town: Nürtingen - street: Plochinger Str. 14 b .

Protagonists

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• Sponsoring association „Freies Kinderhaus e.V.“, Kinder-Kultur-Werkstatt, Julia Rieger, Plochinger Str. 14, 72622 Nürtingen, tel. 07022-979522, email: kikuwe@t-online.de, web: http://www.kikuwe.de/ and http://www.seegrasspinnerei.de/