The Hansaviertel receives 2.5 million euros from the Federal Programme “National Urban Development Projects” for measures on listed buildings and open spaces.
The “National Urban Development Projects” programme is broadly diversified in terms of content in order to take account of urban development projects with different objectives. On 18 November 2015, the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety, Florian Pronold, the District Mayor of Mitte, Christian Hanke, and the Bürgerverein Hansaviertel symbolically presented a plaque. This year, 46 “National urban development projects” will receive around 150 million euros in funding from the programme of the same name of the Federal Ministry of Building. An interdisciplinary jury of experts chaired by Parliamentary State Secretary Florian Pronold made the selection. In Berlin, the Hansaviertel Berlin is being funded with 2.5 million euros for measures on listed buildings and open spaces. The “National Urban Development Projects” programme promotes the careful revaluation and strengthening of the urban development and architectural qualities of the district. This requires investment measures in listed buildings and open spaces as well as the creation of accessibility and energy-saving measures. The intensive participation of local residents also plays an important role in this project. Only through a sustainable and forward-looking approach to further development can the Hansaviertel continue to be a place for art, culture, church, living, recreation and architecture in the future.
The projects in detail are:
Hansa Library: The listed building designed by Werner Düttmann in 1957 will be renovated so that it will continue to function as a place for culture, information, education and communication in the future.
Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche: The listed Protestant church was designed in 1957 by architect Ludwig Lemmer on the foundations of the previous building, which was destroyed in 1943. The filigree bell tower and the nave were renovated.
Academy of Arts forecourt: The aim is the careful renovation of the forecourt including the sensitive, monumental integration of barrier-free access to the main and side entrances.
Revitalisation of the area around Hansaplatz: For Hansaplatz as the centre of the quarter, a utilisation and development concept is being worked out with the citizens* to enhance the spatial and design situation of the square and its immediate surroundings.
The SPD member of the Bundestag Eva Högl, whose constituency also includes the Hansaviertel, said: “The award is an appreciation for the work done, but also an opportunity to upgrade the quarter”.
Pronold commented on the jury’s decision for the Hansaviertel that the strong local civic commitment had been an important criterion for the selection. “Urban development”, he said, “is not just an investment in concrete”.
translated with deepl