The idea of revitalization on an example of the HafenCity district (Hamburg, Germany)

Revitalization is a concept heard more and more often in the context of space transformation, especially in big cities. According to Art. 2 of the Revitalization Act of October 9, 2015 (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 802), revitalization in Poland is understood as a process of recovering from a crisis state, through integrated actions for the local community, space and economy, territorially focused, carried out by revitalization stakeholders on the basis of municipal revitalization program. This means that revitalization does not only refer to the renovation or modernization of a building object, but apart from its spatial significance, it is also supposed to affect the social and economic sphere of the area. What are the main drivers motivating to conduct revitalization? Various factors motivate to undertake revitalization activities, including the expansion of urbanized areas and the need to re-develop valuable locations in city centers. In the past, industrialization and urbanization took place without taking into consideration any rules of environmental and nature protection. As a result, nowadays it is necessary to firstly identify the contaminants and pollutants present in the area in order to introduce new, market-attractive functions in the degraded post-industrial areas at the next stage.

The Revitalization Act states that the preparation, coordination and creation of the conditions for the revitalization process are the responsibilities of local governments. Communes have to carry out all revitalization processes in an open and transparent way, as well as prevent the exclusion of the inhabitants of the revitalization area. The principles of universal design should also be taken into account (including the needs of disabled persons).

Revitalization should be considered jointly in several aspects: spatial and urban, economic, social and environmental. Only such an approach, combining all four aspects, will allow to effectively conduct the revitalization of a given area. The spatial and urban aspect concerns mainly the development of infrastructure, transport, repairs and renovation. The economic aspect should relate to supporting entrepreneurship and launching sectors of the local economy, especially by activating financial support mechanisms. The social aspect should ensure the development of human resources and counteracting social exclusion, preventing unemployment and homelessness, and creating equal opportunities. The environmental aspect should be based on enhancing natural values and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany

One of the largest revitalization projects in Europe is HafenCity in Hamburg. It is the only example of the revitalization of a port area directly connected to the city center. The project is based on the transformation of the post-industrial area of the former river port and gasworks with a total area of 157 hectares. The entire area is divided into 13 quarters. The completion of the revitalization project is scheduled for 2025.

PICTURE 1. PLAN OF THE NEW HAFENCITY DISTRICT DIVIDED INTO QUARTERS

source: http://duolook.pl/plan-nowej-dzielnicy-hafencity-hamburg-kwartaly-architektoniczne-projekty-miasta/ (access: 17.11.2020 r.)

The idea for such an investment appeared among the city authorities when the prices of flats in Hamburg began to rise rapidly. That prompted the search for land for new investments. The idea to transform the area of a declining port located in the strict center of the city appeared due to lack of free space to plan new investments from scratch. In 1997, the city became the owner of the entire area, and just two years later, the Dutch architect Kees Christiaanse won the competition and started to prepare a Masterplan for this area. The involvement of such a high-class architect attracted other artists to cooperate in the project. The design requirements were high. Each building had to have an ecological certificate and the street spaces had to be as convenient as possible for pedestrians. One of the main advantages of the district, on which the architects focused on, are waterfronts, where many friendly public spaces are created. Construction of the first building in HafenCity began in 2001 and was completed in 2003. First residents of the new district showed up in 2004. As time passed, other buildings were erected, such as museums, primary schools and junior high schools. A metro line and even a university were also built there. Currently, there are five such universities in the district. The HafenCity was enlarged by the Speicherstadt district, which was the world’s largest complex of related warehouses. It was redesigned and adopted to new housing and cultural functions. In the Dalmannkai quarter, the most recognizable HafenCity facility was built – the Elbphilharmonie, which has become the new symbol of Hamburg.

PICTURE 2. HAFENCITY REVITALIZATION EFFECTS

source: https://www.hamburg.de/bkm/elbphilharmonie/, https://www.podrozepoeuropie.pl/hafencity-nowoczesna-dzielnica-hamburga/ (access: 17.11.2020 r.)

Both the city authorities and the authors of the project wanted HafenCity to become an inhabitant-friendly, actual part of the city of Hamburg, accessible to everyone. For this reason, both state-subsidized apartments, cooperative premises and luxury apartments overlooking the river have been built in the district. Thanks to this, the space is available to all social groups. All needs reported by the local community are analyzed and implemented, if possible, to ensure that residents can participate in the transformation process of the area. The entire district is planned to become a multifunctional space, distinguishing itself both nationally and globally.

Summary

Revitalization is an extremely complex process that requires appropriate planning of all activities aimed at restoring the splendor of areas that have lost their value in the city. Due to the large scale of the project, revitalization actions are processes with a long time horizon, that requires large financial outlays. The decision to start such activities should be taken by local authorities, which plan to conduct the entire process in a comprehensive manner and ensure the participation of all its stakeholders. The success of revitalization depends mostly on the correct adaptation of the solutions to the expectations of the local community, as well as the use of optimal architectural and urban solutions tailored to the nature of an area. A well-carried out revitalization can certainly have positive effects both for the local community and the promotion of the city. It can also increase tourist activity or encourage a new group of investors to invest in a given city.

Barbara Mariańska
Maintenance and Development Specialist