Urban quarters the key to revitalising urban environments
Urban quarters the key to revitalising urban environments
Discussion with experts Peter Rees, Christiane Thalgott and Jürgen Bruns-Berentelg at EXPO REAL (DIFA Forum, 7 October 2003)
City festivals, marketplaces, lively squares and urban districts – a city’s vitality and its quality of life are dependent on many factors. What contribution can inner-city quarters make towards creating a vibrant, viable urban environment? And how important are quarters when recreating and enhancing public places? The DIFA Forum being staged at the Munich EXPO REAL commercial property show will provide a platform for an in-depth discussion of this innovative approach to urban development, based on the insights of experts who are genuinely close to events on the ground. The Forum is scheduled for 7 October, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and will take place in the convention area of hall C2. Under the title “Vibrant quarters – an urban vitamin boost”, London’s City Planning Officer Peter Rees and Jürgen Bruns-Berentelg, director of the Hamburg Port Area Development Corporation and the driving force behind Hamburg’s HafenCity project, will examine how urban districts can be managed professionally and public spaces such as Hamburg’s quayside area opened up for public access. In addition, the DIFA Forum will share information about the status of urban quarters in Germany and future trends. Drawing on examples of best practice from the DIFA-AWARD 2002, senior Munich urban planning official Christiane Thalgott will demonstrate which criteria are vital to the success or failure of measures to develop an urban quarter.
“The only valid way to measure the success of a quarter is to establish whether it is accepted by the groups who use it and whether the level of visitor traffic can be sustained without a constant stream of markets, special events, etc.,” says Dr. Frank Billand, member of the DIFA Management Board. Through its six CityQuartier/StadtQuartier projects, DIFA has gained considerable experience in this area and has played a major part in inner-city development in major German cities for many years.
Visitors to EXPO REAL can discuss the impact of quarter developments on the wider urban environment with the experts on the DIFA Forum panel. The debate will be presented by TV personality Klaus Bresser, best known for his role as anchorman on the popular German television programme “Talk im Turm”.
“In many places across Europe, urban quarters like ‘Broadgate’ in the City of London are enhancing the appeal of previously unattractive areas or raising the quality of life for users and regenerating their working environment. The ‘Neues Kranzler Eck’ development in Berlin is another prime example. This encouraging trend is not restricted to the major European cities - we are increasingly seeing similar moves and exemplary building ensembles in medium-sized towns such as Heidelberg, Mannheim and Kassel,” adds Dr. Billand. Against this backdrop, DIFA is exploring the possibilities of urban quarters and their huge economic and social potential in a wider context - having held its DIFA-AWARD competition (motto: “Future of the city. City of the future.”) twice in Germany, the company is now running the contest at pan-European level for the first time. Towns, cities and local authorities have until 31 December 2003 to submit their “contributions to revitalising quarters”. The competition materials for the DIFA-AWARD 2004, which will focus specifically on the public accessibility of inner-city spaces and quarter management, will be available from the DIFA stand at EXPO REAL.
DIFA at EXPO REAL: Hall B2, Stand B2.142
Press contact
DIFA Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AG
PR/Communication
Fabian Hellbusch
Caffamacherreihe 8, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
Tel: +49 40 3491 9160, Fax: +49 40 3491 9190
Internet: www.difa.de
E-mail: fabian.hellbusch@difa.de
