A regional Image for a common Identity

Interview mit Martin Stein

The cities of Bitterfeld and Wolfen, along with three surrounding towns, joined together to form a common city on July 1, 2007. It is not unusual to pool funds in times of population erosion and scarce public funding in order to work more efficiently. So why was this a topic for IBA?

Martin Stein: Above all due to the severity of the transformation process that the region of Bitterfeld-Wolfen has come through since reunification. It rose to saddening fame in 1990 as a regional ecological disaster area; soon after that we saw the closures and renaturation, which was initially perceived as a process of deindustrialisation. This was then followed by a surprising industrial development; last but not least, the region is also faced with a dramatic demographic transformation. This particularly contrasting co-occurrence of growth and shrinkage alone is an interesting starting point for an IBA. But it is not only coping with the shrinkage that requires strong local government, rather also coming to terms with the special economic dynamism in Bitterfeld- Wolfen. The foundation was laid for a strong mutual city with the fusion of the five, i.e. six local government authorities.

The idea for a joint city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen did not emerge from the IBA process, however?

Martin Stein: No. There were initial thoughts in 1998with a master plan drafted by the Entwicklungs- und Fördergesellschaft together with Bauhaus Dessau. It even received a European Prize for Regional Planning. IBA started operations in October 2003. A Joint Integrated City Development Concept GINSEK was created as a preparation for the planned fusion; however, it dealt more with questions relating to the housing market. IBA then placed a greater focus on aspects concerning developmental- regional structure within a future, joint city.

In addition to accompanying the fusion process, work on the IBA concept “The Chemistry is Right – Network Region Bitterfeld-Wolfen” concentrated on building up a regional image for the new city, stretching through to 2030. How was this framework for action agreed upon?

Martin Stein: The idea for network city forums emerged in 2007. A total of five councils of experts discussed main focuses of development. It was imperative to agree on what kind of structure this new city should be: where is the centre; where are the limits; what are the highlights? The forums were characterised by a process of emerging insight. The ideas were integrated within the draft for a regional image 2030+ and are intended to support the development of a common identity for the joint city.

… that counts six districts with their own profiles, own development directions, own qualities and their own inherent development potential …

Martin Stein: … and additionally connecting landscape regions and main settlements., each with their own function and tasks within a joint city. Six key projects were defined. For the first one, “The Lakeside City”, a competition for regional development implementation has already been held and the winning agency has been commissioned with further development of its drafts.

The key project “Campus 041” is also on the boil …

Martin Stein: This year, the city’s New Town Hall will be opened in the film factory’s former administrative building 041. This is an important step in revitalising the site of the film factory. In this, the City Council sees itself, in addition to the Industry and Film Museum and the Technology and Founders’ Centre, as a pioneering user.

Given the current development dynamism, how quickly will the region have overtaken the regional image 2030+?

Martin Stein: The regional image is not complete, and it is not hewn in stone. It dictates a possible target direction for construction, demolition and development projects. It was introduced by the City Council together with the current key projects. But it will be necessary at all times for it to be compared and aligned with the reality on the ground.