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The IBA project Häselburg exemplifies the commitment of private developers who are activating a large vacant property in a challenging environment for urban development.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
Since 2016, the Häselburg in Gera has been developing into a new place for art and culture, education, and discourse.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
Here, an open space is being created for artists and art enthusiasts, local associations and initiatives, students and pupils, guests, and refugees.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The Häselburg promotes emerging talents, amplifies migrant perspectives and experiences, and stands as a symbol for a democratic, open-minded, and diverse Eastern Thuringia.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
With its free spaces for art, encounters, and education, the Häselburg appeals to diverse target groups.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
A new sculptural staircase with an elevator connects the three parts of the castle and ensures barrier-free and fire protection-compliant access to the entire ensemble.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
Apartments can also be rented, and the offer is particularly popular among artists and creatives.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
In spring 2023, Häselburg was included in the IBA final, and simultaneously, an exhibition took place in the former girls' school premises.
Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller

Häselburg

⸺ From vacancy to cultural center

https://www.haeselburg.org
Gera is located in the east of Thuringia. Once a princely residence, then an industrial city from the 19th century, and a district capital in the GDR, Gera now seeks its identity between a metropolis and a regional center. The mixed and contradictory experiences of transformation are reflected in the cityscape, politics, and cultural life. Today, Gera's city center is marked by vacant lots and empty buildings in many places. 

However, just a few steps south of the marketplace, new developments can be seen: Since 2016, the Häselburg has grown opposite the new school campus of the Rutheneum Gymnasium, a new place for art and culture, education, and discourse. The three-part Gründerzeit building ensemble originally served as a girls' school and administrative center until it was sold by the city through a concept award after a long period of vacancy. Private developers Dr. Claudia Tittel and Burkhard Schlothauer won the bid with their vision of a free cultural center. After the Arrival StadtLand project call, the project followed with an IBA candidate status. Since then, they have gradually and carefully restored the 2,600 square meters of space to its original state and made it usable as a multi-talent center while following the IBA maxim: how little is enough? Planning and construction were mostly done in-house in a dynamic process with users, architects, and builders. Whenever possible, components were refurbished and reused. From the outset, there were interim uses to test and anchor the new cultural purpose of the well-known building complex in people's consciousness.

In 2022, the two parts of the former girls' school with a gallery, the Gera free art school, studios, the Altes Wannenbad event cellar, additional rental spaces, as well as rooms for artists and lecturers, will be fully utilized. The anchor tenant is the media education center of the Thuringian State Media Authority. The third part, the pointed former residential and commercial building, will be converted into guest rooms and offices for the cultural and creative industries. The ground floor provides space for a cultural café and association activities. A new sculptural staircase with an elevator by architect Thomas Laubert connects the three buildings and ensures barrier-free and fire protection-compliant access to the entire ensemble. A close connection between art and architecture is essential for the interior design of the Häselburg. Site-specific installations complement the existing structure and create new spatial impressions.

With its free art, meeting, and education spaces, the Häselburg attracts new target groups and contributes to testing a new urbanity in the city center. It's cultural offering enriches the city of Gera and radiates out to the region. Open-mindedness and social diversity are both a stance and a program.

Migrant perspectives and experiences are regularly present in exhibitions and summer academies. Questions of identity are negotiated in various art disciplines, media, and educational programs. The Häselburg is now involved in various local and regional networks. To strengthen this place for encounter and dialogue in Gera and to strengthen the synergies of cultural institutions and artists, the cultural café will be built by 2023.

The high engagement of the private building owners is remarkable in this project. Through personal commitment, they were able to activate a large vacant property in a challenging environment as a valuable resource not only for culture but also for urban development within a few years. This included not only art and architecture but also a sustainable operator concept and great flexibility in an open process. In addition to the existing building, plans for an extension were also developed as part of the IBA, in order to expand the uses with a contemporary architectural expression and to clarify the open urban situation towards the Stadtgraben. For this next leap of investment, Häselburg is still in a process of development and discussion, which is closely related to questions of societal support and building culture.

Ort

Häselburg

Burgstraße 12
07545 Gera

Projekt sponsor

  • Häselburg Besitz KG

Cooperation partner

  • Kulturhaus Häselburg e.V.

Financial support

  • Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs: National Urban Development Policy
  • Free State of Thuringia: Lottery Funds
  • Thuringian State Chancellery: Cultural Funding
  • Fonds Soziokultur
  • Kulturstiftung des Bundes
  • Robert Bosch Foundation
  • International Building Exhibition Thuringia GmbH

Involved In Planning

  • Architecture: Häselburg Besitz KG
  • Architekturstudio Mitte, Gera