Magdeburg ist inconceivable without the Elbe

Interview with Dr. Dieter Scheidemann

In the IBA process, Magdeburg has devoted itself to the subject of “Living beside and with the Elbe” and can demonstrate results at three locations – in the north of the city under the slogan “More town – less countryside”.

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: With the “Science Port” we have succeeded in transforming the old commercial port into a new, vital urban quarter in the north of the city. The Elbe, the old docks and the vicinity to the university campus are special resources that the town can benefit from and use to persuade creative and innovative companies to establish themselves. Tenants in the reconstructed storehouse “Denkfabrik”, research insinuations and businesses have already moved into the port district and, acting as initiators, have triggered an irreversible dynamic trend.

An international architectural competition to further develop the “Science Port” was concluded in January 2010. What was the outcome?

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: The challenge was to combine the city districts of the “Science Port” and the university campus to form a new “Science Quarter”. The 1st prize went to a design with an outstanding response to local conditions and which is practicable, which is what I consider to be the most important aspect …

The centre of the city presents itself in the IBA year as the “city moving closer to the river”.

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: Yes. This is where we have shaped the future, but also uncovered the past. Our excavation of the Cleve Bastion brings the history of the fortified city to life. It is important for us to enable the citizens of Magdeburg, whose town was so badly damaged in the war, to experience the past in this form. The reorganisation of the Elbebahnhof area will make it possible to redevelop this part of the city and open it up to the Elbe. New architecture is originating here and the unbroken riverside path will be completed. We have also been successful in combining the past and the future in the Lukasklause.

… and an important project on the banks of the Elbe …

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: The river has always been important for the city. As a ford, as a barrier in combination with the fortifications, as a transhipment point, for industrialisation … Magdeburg is inconceivable without its river. It is important to make the Elbe the subject of urban redevelopment. We have a good opportunity to move the city back to the Elbe.

Finally, the IBA development in the south of Magdeburg can be summed up in the slogan “Less town – more countryside”.

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: There is currently no pressure to develop many industrial brownfield sites in the south of the city. A lot of the owners are waiting for better times before disposing of their properties. However, that means continuing stagnation for the south. It was therefore our aim to develop new approaches for land management in connection with such brownfield sites and to awaken the owners’ interest for and create a “fresh view” of opportunities for developing their properties. For this we relied on a mixture of formal and informal planning instruments. However, this process has proved to be very complex. Nevertheless, we have two cases to demonstrate how it can be achieved. I understand the IBA in this sense as a process that has given developments momentum that will continue after 2010.

There are a number of remarkable projects in the south-east of the city that have been – or are on the way to being – successful…

Dr. Dieter Scheidemann: First, there is the so-called “Bookmark”, the library in Salbke, that resulted with the commitment of a number of citizens, and that has gained international recognition. Second, the IBA project based around the Water Tower in Salbke is taking shape. These two civic projects underline our interest in turning historic district centres in the south of the city with their traditional links to the Elbe into attractive residential areas.