Award ceremony in Munich’s Old Town Hall

"LEBENDIGE STADT" FOUNDATION
DM 20,000 for the new design of a square in Potsdam

In the presence of Munich’s Lord Mayor Christian Ude and Bavarian Interior Minister Dr. Günther Beckstein, the “Lebendige Stadt” Foundation presented its award for the “design of city centre sites” together with a cash award of DM 20,000 in the Old Town Hall in Munich on December 11.

Wes & Partner, Platz der Einheit, Potsdam

The jury chaired by Christoph Ingenhoven selected the concept drawn up by Hamburg landscape architects Wes & Partner. The concept that has already been implemented at the Platz der Einheit square in Potsdam was the clear winner of the coveted award out of around 300 entries and 170 submitted projects. “One of the most striking features of the design concept for the Platz der Einheit square is its clarity and simplicity”, is the opinion shared by Alexander Otto (Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Lebendige Stadt” Foundation) and Dr. Andreas Mattner (Chairman of the Foundation’s Executive Committee).

Praise was also expressed for five further design concepts for inner city squares. In addition to a further idea submitted by Wes & Partner in Greifswald, these included concepts for Annaberg-Buchholz, Berlin, Halle and Neu-Ulm. Thanks to the painstakingly developed details and the way they are harmoniously integrated in their surroundings, all of the projects would add to the quality of life and improve the utilisation options for the cities in question.


 Wes & Partner, Platz der Einheit, Potsdam

The jury was particularly pleased to receive an entry from a school class in Aschaffenburg. “With their design for the Brentanoplatz square, the children have underlined just how willing the general public is to play a part in making our cities more attractive. This is precisely the aim of the “Lebendige Stadt” Foundation”, said Ingenhoven. Alongside Ingenhoven, the jury comprised several prominent individuals such as Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Flagge (Director of the German Architecture Museum), Jens Friedemann (FAZ editor), Dr. Roland Gerschermann (Managing Director of the Societätsverlag publishing company), Prof. Dr. Ing. Gerhard Glaser (Saxony Land Curator), Horst Haffner (Munich Planning Director), Hermann Henkel (HPP architects), Friedel Kellermann (RKW architects) and Manfred Ruge (Lord Mayor of Erfurt)


 Wes & Partner, Platz der Einheit, Potsdam

In the summer of 2000, prominent representatives from the worlds of culture, science, politics, business and the media joined forces for the first time in Germany in the nonprofit “Lebendige Stadt” (“vibrant city”) Foundation with the aim of promoting the cultural variety of European cities. The cultural projects of the Foundation that have already been completed include the much-praised lighting concepts for the blast furnaces in the Saarland city of Neunkirchen and the illumination of Hamburg’s famous “Speicherstadt” warehouse district. The Foundation also organised a nationwide “Vibrant City Day”, where it promoted the planting of trees and bushes in public spaces in 39 cities and tens of thousands of people became “sponsors” of a small piece of green oasis in the city centre. The Innovation Congress entitled “The City as a Stage” and held in Düsseldorf in September was attended by over in 250 artists and municipal representatives, who came together to develop new ideas and artistic concepts for lively cities. The projects promoted by the Foundation also include a research project at Hamburg-Harburg Technical University. The scientific study is focused on the “Parameters of a Vibrant City”.


Lord Mayor Christian Ude, Munich
Civic Building Director Wolfgang Baumann, Ulm Civic Planning Office
Dr. Günther Beckstein, Bavarian Interior Minister
Dipl. Ing. Jörg Oberle, Ulm Civic Planning Office
Anne Lüft, Maria-Ward-Realschule secondary school, Aschaffenburg
Renata Rohleder, Principal, Maria-Ward-Realschule Aschaffenburg
Prof. Hinnerk Wehberg, WES & Partner Hamburg
Gernot Schulz, Hillebrandt + Schulz-Architektur, Cologne
Rose Fisch, Sanierungsträger Potsdam restoration company
Wolfgang Matschke, Dean of the Martin Luther University in Halle
Lady Mayoress Barbara Klepsch, Annaberg-Buchholz
Susanne Vogel, Annaberg-Buchholz
Alexander Otto, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees
Dr. Andreas Mattner, Chairman of the Foundation’s Executive Committee (from l.)

Photos of the award ceremony can be transmitted digitally on request.