Dessau is reinventing itself: plans for a thriving city center by 2035!

Dessau is reinventing itself: plans for a thriving city center by 2035!

Exciting changes are coming to Dessau-Roßlau, especially with a view to the upcoming Federal Horticultural Show in 2035. The area around the museum intersection was once a lively district, but the area is now in great disrepair. Where once there were individually designed houses and a thriving business life, many shop windows are now empty and the natural history museum remains unused. According to a report by MZ, over 70 percent of the buildings in this area are not rented, which poses major challenges for the city.

However, good ideas seem to be in the air. Two architecture students from Anhalt University, Wilhelm von Ardenne and Paul Oliver Sell, wrote in their master's thesis entitled "Old. New. We." Initial proposals for the redesign of the area between the museum intersection and August-Bebel-Platz were developed. They are now presenting these to city councils, the city administration and entrepreneurs. Their approaches aim to create breakthroughs, reduce floors and make the inner courtyards between Franzstrasse and August-Bebel-Platz more attractive.

The vision for BUGA 2035

The German Federal Garden Show Society has already accepted Dessau-Roßlau's application for the 2035 Federal Garden Show. The state government of Saxony-Anhalt supports this project, which Mayor Jacqueline Lohde sees as crucial for future urban development. She emphasizes that the project can be linked in the same breath with other large initiatives such as the Intel settlement in Magdeburg. The aim of this BUGA is to redesign and connect different parts of the city - a step towards a future-oriented cityscape.

Particular attention is paid to topics such as mobility, urban greenery and climate resilience. The feasibility study by the SWUP/ift Berlin office community and the Runze & Caspar agency recommends numerous areas for design as part of the BUGA, including the historic cemetery, the east entrance to the city and the Elbe balcony area in Roßlau.

Rethink the attractiveness of city centers

The questions of how cities can remain attractive in the future are not only important in Dessau-Roßlau. A comprehensive survey by the Institute for Regional and Urban Development Research has shown that the majority of the cities surveyed in North Rhine-Westphalia are striving for multifunctional, green city centers that are easily accessible and offer a wide range of offerings. Gastronomy, living spaces, medical services and co-working spaces are among the areas that are expected to become more important in city centers. To achieve this, it is essential to create attractive public spaces in which people enjoy spending time.

The commitment of the city administration and architecture students could be the beginning of a new era for Dessau-Roßlau. Dirk Merkel, the operator of a successful snack bar, has already experienced the mayor's honor at the city festival and plans to hand over the Advent market to his successor after 35 years. At the same time, there are also challenges to overcome, such as the critical situation of the empty natural history museum and the need to find creative approaches to quality of life and investments in the city.

Current events in Dessau-Roßlau show a clear trend: the city has the chance to reinvent itself. The need has been recognized and the first steps have been taken. Whether this will lead to a prosperous future will become clear at the start of the Federal Garden Show in 2035.

For more information you can check out the full reports: MZ reported, Dessau-Roßlau and WDR.