The old Town will be a good Place to live

Interview with Gisela Kirchner and Iris Reuther

With the demolition of historic buildings in the heritage-listed Old Town, Eisleben is breaking a taboo. The talk is of “perforated shrinkage” …

Iris Reuther: … which is a term that I do not really like. “Active urban regeneration” is more appropriate. We fill in the gaps again or leave plots empty in order to gain open space.

Gisela Kirchner: The question is, how much can we or need we give up in order for Eisleben to remain a town worth living in. Ten years ago, the Old Town was emptying steadily, despite development funds. When we were drawing up the urban development concept in 2002 we asked the inhabitants how, and under what conditions, they wished to live in the Old Town, with its 700 listed buildings. Many of them could imagine living there, but would need things such as car parking, open spaces – at the least a balcony – and they wanted shorter distances.

But you are not tearing buildings down just to create parking spaces. How did the ambitious Lutherstraße/Badergasse and Luther’s Birthplace Ensemble projects come about?

Iris Reuther: We drew up the urban development concept with a large amount of publicity. In 2002, when the national “Stadtumbau Ost” urban renewal competition was being staged, the owners of Lutherstraße approached the planners. Consequently, this small district with its tiny courtyards became our pilot project, the aim of which was to show how urban redevelopment can function.

Gisela Kirchner: It was not economically viable to save one listed building and a ruin opposite Luther’s birthplace. At our first IBA workshop in 2003 we targeted this area, incorporating the Luther Foundation, heritage conservationists and as many affected individuals as we could. The result was the proposal to renovate the birthplace, create exhibition space in a new building and establish a new visitor centre on the other side of the street, in the process defining the “world heritage address”.

And the modern building on the historic site was accepted just like that?

Gisela Kirchner: There were lively debates – but they were worth it. After all, we have already won three prizes with the project and shown that it is possible to erect new buildings in world heritage areas. It is important that you speak to everyone, that nothing is concealed, problems are raised and joint solutions found.

What instruments have you developed for the broad involvement of partners?

Iris Reuther: The communal project of the Lutherstadt’s redevelopment is a key platform that can also continue to function beyond the IBA year 2010. It is managed by the town council and has so far been supported by the IBA office and “Büro für urbane Projekte” (Office for urban projects). Building owners such as the Luther Memorials Foundation, associations, property owners, architects, church parishes and planners are all collaborating here. The communal project also supports individual projects, such as the Luther Trail. Public events offer an opportunity to obtain information: in the case of the Birthplace Ensemble, the plans were already revealed before the first groundbreaking had been performed.

Gisela Kirchner: When walking the Luther Trail we have more people taking part from year to year. We were pleasantly surprised that 300 turned up for the inaugural walk four years ago. These walks offer an opportunity to explain what is to be created here. And something new is created year for year.

What conclusions do you draw from your participation in the IBA?

Gisela Kirchner: The IBA is a good engine for urban redevelopment and brings sustainable, good ideas with it. One key experience is that urban renewal and redevelopment cannot be undertaken from the desktop. The main work consists of talking to the people on site, maintaining contact and reaching agreement with regard to specific steps that are to be taken.

Iris Reuther: The image of the Old Town is evolving to that of a good place to live. This theme needs to be expanded so that the area can be further consolidated as a place for living, working, shopping, education and culture. I believe that this type of urban development can become a self-supporting process.