Emscher Park, Germany
Emscher Park
Ecological and urban renewal of urban areas
Abstract
The International Building Exhibition Emscher Park was established in 1989 as a structural programme of the Land North-Rhine/Westphalia scheduled to run for ten years. Its task is to achieve the ecological and urban renewal of the northern Ruhr district. Its aim is to 'tidy up the Ruhr district's backyard'. This highly depressed area in the Ruhr was in danger of being permanently excluded from future social and economic developments. Within the framework of a rapid and short-lived industrialisation, industrial estates (coal-energy and chemical plants) were established, which have now been transformed into derelict industrial sites. The International Building Exhibition aims to initiate and supplement thinking on the Emscher Park area. The basic principles include the creation of a sustainable project, a limited number of master plans with key concepts underpinning a clear hierarchy of operational projects, and a large number of working groups to foster and develop the innovations.
Policy Goals
The economic recovery of this extensive industrial area is central to the policy goals of the project and, is intrinsically linked to the capacity for stimulating the restructuring of the environment, using the word in its broadest sense of natural and urban environments.
Project Status
Seven master plans have been developed: Emscher Landscape Park; landscape and environmental recovery of watercourses; leisure area on the Rhein-Herne Canal; industrial legacy; activities in the park; innovations in relation to housing; and development of social and cultural activities. Currently 92 projects are being developed and implemented on five sites in the area between Duisburg and Kamen.
Background Information
The Emscher Park Building Exhibition is not an exhibition in the classical sense, but a process with many activities. In this process of structural change, the International Building Exhibition is working together with many bodies on a broad basis: with the local authorities, industry, associations, pressure groups and the people. The councils of the 17 local authorities of the Emscher region voted to join the building exhibition at its creation. In this complex framework, the IBA GmbH acts as a coordinator. The IBA is institutionalised in the Steering Committee and in the Board of Trustees. The Committee decides on the admission of projects to the exhibition, and the Trustees bring together representatives from public life who promote the Building Exhibition and support its initiatives.
Implementation
Strategy
In order to renew and upgrade the northern Ruhr district a structural programme was set up in 1989 to last for ten years. This programme aims to ensure that innovative ideas are generated. Ideas are transferred into feasible plans which are subsequently implemented. Thus a number of master plans are developed, as well as a great number of operational projects and working groups to foster and develop the innovations.
Activities
The 17 local authorities of the Emscher region and various groups that cooperate on the project are currently developing and implementing 92 projects in the following fields:
- modernization of coal mining settlements and construction of new housing, with a focus onquality of life and environmental issues;
- 'Working in the Park': developing new corporate buildings on derelict land, to enable the creation of new economic poles;
- preservation and re-use of industrial monuments as witnesses of history;
- landscaping of the Emscher area into a park connecting all 17 urban areas, with pedestrian and cycle paths, and thematic areas;
- ecological restructuring of the Emscher river and its 350 km of tributaries.
Partners
The responsibility for the individual projects remains with the 'developers', which in most cases are the local authorities and in some cases private companies or pressure groups. No additional funds have been made available to finance the projects of the IBA Emscher Park. The project is financed from the existing aid programmes of the Land combined with structural development aid from national government and the European Union. These programmes are focused on urban renewal and business and housing aid, as well as funding for training schemes. It is hoped that this fusion of funding mechanisms and the interlinking of investment schemes will enhance policy impact.
Analysis
Results
The Emscher Park project displays many highly innovative facets in terms of working methods, project objectives, and contracting authorities' contract specifications. Many of the projects are close to completion.
Barriers and Conflicts
Public participation has been a continuing concern of contracting authorities, although the mobilization of local residents varies greatly between the different projects.
Lessons Learned
The entire Emscher Park project contains a wealth of innovative elements that may serve as an example to areas with similar industrial histories. These include:
- increased public awareness of the historical significance of their surroundings;
- successful land use planning based on multi-disciplinary working involving planners, economists, ecologists, architects and artists;
- planning process goals set to attain a realistic optimum, rather than utopian ideal.
Further information
IBA Emscher Park
M. Grohe
Tel: +49 - 209 / 17 03 0
Fax: +49 - 209 / 17 03 298
References
- Innovations for the improvement of the urban environment; a European overview; Dublin 1993.
- Urban environment andSustainable Development; success stories; Heidemij Advies BV, Arnhem NL.
Acknowledgements
The original text for this project summary was developed by Beture Setame (September, 1994). Revision by EURONET, 1996.
© EURONET/ICLEI Consortium, 1996. See Impressum.