The book “Regeneration of the Historical and Architectural Environment. The Development of Historical Centers”was first published in German, and in 2020 it was also published in Russian, in the Moscow publishing house“Kurs”. The book grew out of her Ph. D. thesis prepared at the department of the Technical University of Dresden, where Anastasia Malko continued her studies after the Irkutsk National Research Technical University (IRNITU) - these two educational institutions have been cooperating for many years.
Anastasia analyzes the German experience of urban planning regulation, which is effective for preserving the historical architectural and urban planning environment. The book formulates the possibilities of using German legal and urban planning tools in the historical cities of Russia. The findings of the study can be used in municipal legislation and planning authorities of historic cities.
The uniqueness of the German experience lies in the scrupulousness of the historical and architectural analysis and in the careful selection of the necessary set of tools for the preservation and development of the historical and architectural environment. The fourth chapter reveals the practical application of these tools for three quarters, and this experience can be very useful for the historical cities of Russia, in particular the "Regulation on the preservation of urban planning features", which helps to preserve the historical appearance of the city.
We are publishing a fragment of the fourth chapter, which examines the tools for the preservation and urban development of the historical heritage in Germany and the issues of their practical implementation in Dresden in the quarters of Oiser Neustadt, Inner Neustadt, Blasewitz-Striesen-Nordost. Here is a short excerpt on the analysis of the tools used in the Innere Neustadt quarter.
The Innere Neustadt area is located on the right side of the Elbe River and is a continuation of the historic core of Dresden's Altstadt ("Old Town") district. Inner Neustadt is a harmonious blend of architecture from different eras, which is a testament to the outstanding European urban culture.
Thanks to carefully selected tools for urban development and preservation, a balance of interests has been achieved, which allows not only to ensure the preservation of the authenticity of the historical appearance of the architecture of the Gründer period, but also to ensure a dialogue between the buildings of later eras, preserving the harmony of the historical urban space and ensuring its further development.
Conservation of historical monuments in the Innere Neustadt area
The Innere Neustadt area contains a large number of architectural monuments, the state of which is regulated by the Saxon Law on the Protection of Regional Monuments. Any actions in relation to these objects (restoration, repair, as well as other interventions) are controlled by the Office of Culture and Protection of Architectural Monuments of the city of Dresden (German: Amt für Kultur und Denkmalschutz).
However, despite the traditional presence of the status of protection of cultural heritage sites and protected zones, it was decided to introduce additional regulations to preserve the integrity of the historical appearance and unique historically valuable urban space. For this, a number of legislative instruments were developed and adopted in the 1990s. The Innere Neustadt area has been given the special status of Städtebauliches Denkmalschutzgebiet (Städtebauliches Denkmalschutzgebiet) as part of a specialized program introduced by the German Federal Ministry in conjunction with the Saxon Development Bank (German Sächsischer Aufbaubank) to preserve historically valuable areas under threat. To carry out measures for urban planning protection of the historical environment in 2001, the "Regulations for the preservation of urban planning features" H-30 (Erhaltungssatzung H-30) was developed.
The excerpt examines the effectiveness of these additional German tools for the protection and development of the historical and architectural environment according to the following criteria: the objectives of the tool in relation to the preservation of the historical architectural and urban planning environment, the applicability of these tools to achieve goals, the effect of the tools (time period) and the limits of applicability of the tools. These categories should be understood as follows:
Objectives of the tool. The tools are analyzed in terms of the degree of target setting aimed at preserving the historical architectural and urban planning environment. “Immediate” targeting in this context means that the tool is primarily aimed at preserving the historical architectural and urban planning environment. In the case of classifying the “indirect” target setting, this tool is mainly focused on another problem and is only indirectly related to the preservation of a valuable historical environment.
Applicability of the tool. The analysis of the applicability of the tools makes it possible to determine the "success" of the tool for the preservation of the historical architectural and urban planning environment in practice. When provided with the tool to fully preserve the valuable historical environment, it is classified as a “high goal achievement” tool. With a partial improvement in the state of the previous state of the historical environment for a short time, the instrument is classified as an instrument with “average goal achievement”. If the historical environment is negligible, the instrument is classified as “low in target achievement”.
The action of the tools (time period). The analysis of the duration of the instruments is carried out.
Tool boundaries. This aspect explains the range limits of each instrument.
City Planning Protection of Monuments Program for Innere Neustadt
In March 1994, a part of the Innere Neustadt area was allocated within the framework of the Urban Planning Protection of Monuments program, which was practically not damaged during the war and has a special historical and cultural significance for the architectural heritage of Germany.
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zooming District, Innere Neustadt, historic buildings on Palace Square / Palaisplatz, view from the southwest, 1954.08, Foto: Möbius, Walter, Aufn.-Nr.: df_hauptkatalog_0125174, SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek; 2014, Malko A. © Images courtesy of Anastasia Malko
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This program was chosen for the Innere Neustadt area for several reasons:
- own share of investment of funds of the city of Dresden within the framework of the program "City planning protection of monuments" was 20%, which is significantly lower than in the "Regeneration areas" (33%);
- during the implementation of the program activities, an opportunity is provided to establish a dialogue with landowners for spending funds on urban development in order to preserve the characteristics of the historical environment;
- according to the City Planning Law in the German Building Regulations (German: Städtebaurecht im Baugesetzbuch), the implementation of measures for the renovation of historic quarters is of primary importance in the process of urban regeneration;
- in 1991, in the Innere Neustadt area, the area of vacant apartments increased by 50%. This social aspect indicated the need for additional measures, justifying the lack of actions previously carried out in accordance with the German Building Regulations.
The basis for the implementation of the Program and the development of additional tools, the “Regeneration Concept” and the “Regulations for the Preservation of Urban Features”, is the Master Plan 715.1 for the Innere Neustadt region (Rahmenplan 715.1 für die Innere Neustadt), which was developed in the early 1990s. …During its development, detailed studies of the historic quarter were carried out, possible strategies for the restoration and regeneration of the area were proposed, and an analysis of the current needs for the use of the area was carried out. Funding for the period 1993-2013 was estimated at approximately € 12.6 million. At the same time, the program provided funds for the preservation of historically valuable buildings. Particular attention was paid to the Baroque and Gründer period buildings during the careful restoration process (German behutsame Sanierung). Thus, the owners of privately owned monuments had high requirements for the restoration of buildings that are monuments. The percentage of funds funded by the program is as follows:
- 71% funding for the conversion of roads, pedestrian paths, squares
- 21% financing of the reconstruction of residential and commercial buildings
- 6% financing for the restoration of municipal facilities
- 2% preparation, implementation and subsequent monitoring of the condition.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the program Urban planning protection of monuments
Purpose of the tool: after analyzing the Program, this tool can be categorized as “immediate target setting” aimed at preserving the historical architectural and urban planning environment, since the key task of the program is to preserve integral urban planning fragments, rather than single objects.
Applicability of the tool to achieve the goal: during the Program, a large number of tasks were solved, however, the question of resolving the conflict between the Baroque buildings and the mass residential buildings of the 1960s is still on the agenda. The boundaries between buildings of different architectural styles and typologies need to be improved. Despite the incomplete achievement of the set goals, this tool can be classified as a tool with "high goal achievement", since as a result of the activities of this Program, the historically established planning structure of the quarter was not only preserved, but also developed in a new way.
Tool action (time segment) / tool boundaries: The amount of funding was calculated for the period 1993-2013. Compared to other instruments, this Program can be viewed as a long-term measure with positive effects. Impact assessment criteria include: the rate of restoration of buildings and areas, a positive change in the demographic situation, the transformation and reorganization of public spaces, improvement of the urban environment, the availability of empty housing and the amount of funding.
The set goals of the Program have been largely achieved. It should be noted that private investors made a significant contribution to the regeneration process, in addition to the funds of the Program itself.
Regulations and guidelines for the Innere Neustadt area
The City Council of Dresden (German Stadtrat der Landeshauptstadt Dresden) set the following goals at its meeting on September 13, 2001 in the "Regulation on the preservation of urban planning features" H-30 (German: Erhaltungssatzung H-30):
- preservation and restoration of the historical urban appearance;
- preservation of historically valuable architectural and urban planning environment;
- improvement of the residential and business environment by transforming streets and squares, as well as improving green spaces;
- ensuring the functional relationship of individual subareas;
- restoration of the city's historical scale.
The first "Regulation for the preservation of urban planning features" H-03 "Altendresden and Grünring in the Innere Neustadt" (Erhaltungssatzung H-03 "Altendresden und Grünring in der Inneren Neustadt"), developed in 1990, laid the basic provisions for the activities of the General Planning Department of the city of Dresden, in consultation with property owners who were interested in preserving historic buildings.
Thanks to the introduced Regulation, the historically valuable architectural and urban planning environment has been preserved in accordance with the prescribed rules for regeneration and restoration, and some residential units and public facilities have been improved.
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zooming District, Innere Neustadt, 1980s, archive of the General Planning Department of the City of Dresden / 2011, Malko A. © Images courtesy of Anastasia Malko
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Applicability of the tool to achieve the goal can be assessed as "high", the study area was analyzed in full, including activities with the participation of citizens, all the necessary stages were consistently worked out and carried out. The regulation serves as a foundational document for the Innere Neustadt area with an “immediate target” aimed at preserving the historical environment. Thanks to this tool, the district is considered as an integral complex with architectural and urban planning features.
Tool action (time segment) / tool boundaries: The regulation has been in effect since 1993 and is not limited in time.
In addition to this Regulation, additional “Regulations on the use of advertising and shaping of architectural forms and design of facades” (German: Werbe- und Gestaltungssatzung), “Standard for the design of public space of the city of Dresden” (German: Gestaltungshandbuch für den öffentlichen Raum der Stadt Dresden) have been adopted, “Dresden Lighting Master Plan” (German: Lichtmasterplan Dresden) and a draft “Concept for the Use of Urban Spaces” (German: Nutzungskonzepte für städtische Plätze) was developed. The complex of these tools allows you to provide high-quality design of urban space in the area.
Citizen participation
The positive development of the district is possible only due to the clear coordination of legislative and planning instruments with the active involvement of residents in their development. That is why the General Planning Department of the City of Dresden held various events to attract the attention of city residents and integrate them into the planning processes of the historic quarter. An important tool for identifying the problems of the area was the "Map of the sensory perception of the area" (German: Wohlfühlkarte), where participants could mark safe and problem areas using a green or red symbol. After processing the data, the results were included in the correction of the Rahmenplans Innere Neustadt (German: Rahmenplans Innere Neustadt). Further discussions and dialogue with residents have been systematically conducted since 2012 as the planned milestones have been completed.
About the author:
Anastasia Malko is an architect, urban planner, and a specialist in the protection of architectural heritage. Project Scientist: “Unloved Heritage? Socialist City”,“The Future of Modernist Housing. Living Labs Socialist City”Karlsruhe University of Technology. Member of ICOMOS in Germany and the European Association for the History of Urban Development (EAUH).
More information about the book can be found here.
