EISENHÜTTENSTADT: MONITORING A SHRINKING GERMAN CITY [PDF]
Abstract:
The German Urban Commission is currently monitoring a phenomenon not entirely new: the economic and demographic shrinking of cities. As outlined during the Pretoria Conference in 2002, this process is increasingly puzzling for both urban planners and politicians, and in some regions – especially in eastern Germany – the situation is getting dramatically worse (see chapter 1). In chapter 2 and 3 of this paper we will illustrate the effects of economic and demographic shrinking, by analysing the example of the eastern German City of Eisenhüttenstadt. In chapter 4 we will outline Eisenhüttenstadt’s perspectives for the future and discuss its efforts to adapt to these new challenges. The conclusion will put forward a number of theses for further discussion.
Wer sich ernsthaftig und tiefgründig aus einer urbanistischen Perspektive mit dem Phänomen Eisenhüttenstadt beschäftigen möchte, wird wohl nicht um diesen in der slowenischen Zeitschrift Dela veröffentlichen Aufsatz, auf den ich hier schon einmal hingewiesen habe, herumkommen.
