Rostock. Introduction to Pilot Project

Classical urban renewal process is usually based on goals concerning only building renewal and is mostly dominated by spatial-orientated planners and building engineers and bookkeepers. In criticism to this paradigm the EU offered in 1993 the common initiative URBAN. This paradigm of urban renewal context, basically funded by the EU EFRE Funds, is a human-orientated, holistic method. Investments into social, economic and environmental surroundings create sustainable development; and in result of this positive and stimulant conditions the buildings are totally renewed by free marked power. This way of urban renewal was based on a high level of participation.

At the end of 1999 Rostock city considered this method as very successful, quickly and effective and the publicly owned Rostock Urban Renewal Company (RGS) has since become in charge of urban renewal policy.

With the help of IUPM project budget, an independent interdisciplinary team first evaluated urban renewal results of the past 10 years in the inner-city and formulated proposals for regeneration programs in different parts of the city.

(among them the Eastern part of old inner city). Disparities between Kroepeliner-Tor-Vorstadt (Western part of old inner-city) and the Eastern part of old inner city are coming into sight.

In year 2000 and at the beginning of 2001 this international IUPM project will make it possible to push the development in the Oestliche Altstadt by a soft and inhabitant-orientated way. This area promises valuable opportunities, allowing functional disparities to be reduced in favour of the suburb.

NEXT: Oestliche Altstadt Project