Less is More | Experimental Strategies for Cityreconstructions in East Germany

Strategies for Shrinking Cities

What are the possibilities beyond demolition or waiting? Where are the chances for a surplus of space and a lack of programs? How can urban development be steered even without investment funds? Which idea of city can influence the process of remodeling shrinking cities?

The study commissioned by Bauhaus Dessau and the Ministry of Building of Saxony-Anhalt develops urban strategies for remodeling cities in eastern Germany. Six types of tools - extensification, demolition, turning over, freezing, bonding, and stimulating - indicate basic possibilities of action. The model of prairie cities - as a combination of extensive landscape space and city as a compact settlement form - shows the qualities of the new type of city. Five prototype laboratories, each with a specific settlement structure, show how new typologies of buildings, open space, and city can be created on concrete locations by combining the different tools.


Less is More. Experimental Strategies for Cityreconstructions in East Germany.
A study for theStiftung Bauhaus Dessau | 2001

Philipp Oswalt, Klaus Overmeyer with Holger Schmidt

With: Anke Hagemann, Ivo Stotz, Florian Kessel, Rochus Wiedemer, Simone Goldate, Maik Seidel

Computeranimation: Michael Filser, Jonas Luther
Cartoonanimation: Karotoons Berlin | Katrin Rothe, Berte Neraal, Frank Peter Thomas, Felix Zopf