Leinefelde-Worbis
Encyclopedia
“”Leinefelde-Worbis is a town in the district of Eichsfeld
, in northwestern Thuringia
, Germany
. The town was formed on March 16, 2004, from the former independent towns Leinefelde and Worbis along with the municipalities of Breitenbach and Wintzingerode. The population before the amalgamation was 14,387 for Leinefelde, 5,541 for Worbis, 1,021 for Breitenbach and 614 for Wintzingerode.
Leinefelde is the birthplace of Johann Carl Fuhlrott
, the discoverer of Neanderthal man.
Worbis is the birthplace of Bernard Quaritch
(1819-1899), the London second-hand bookseller and publisher.
Situation at the beginning (take from the Leinefelde-Worbis website - with some of the English grammar revised because the website had some incoherent English translation)
A situation in 1989/1990: After the reunification of Germany, this area was dominated by big prefabricated building settlements and a destitute city centres in Leinefelde and Worbis. There was also a decline in the birthrate and a massive drift by the young the former West Germany. To stop the population decline and negative social and economic impactts to this area, various and immediate measures were initiated by the four towns in the area. Various measures approved by the popuulace included modernizing and repairing flats, economic development, and improved public open spaces.
Improvements not only called for repairing and modernizing buildings and infrastructure but changing the politics of this historic area of Germany so it did not end up looking like Detroit after its population fled.
Situation in Leinefelde (south town)
For many years the town to Leinefelde - Worbis, situated in the northwest edge of Thuringia, was known for its unique and historic architecture but was now full deteriorating prefabricated buildings. Many new jobs were created in Leinefelde by the introduction of big cotton mills after WWII. These mills led to 60 years of growth and prosperity, including the construction of nearly 4000 modern apartments and complementary facilities, such as shopping centre, sports facilities, day-care centres and schools south of the town. It was only in 1969 that Leinefelde was classified as a town and this led to a more intensive development stage. In 1989the existing prefabricated building settlements in Leinfelde accounted for 14,000 inhabitants. While the amount of prefabricated building flats had rose in Leinefelde, the balance of carefully planned live/work was suddently destroyed in 1989. With the reunification of Germany, the town vision was broke in competition not only with the lure of West Germany, but the global world markets. From this moment, the job of the rebuilding and reorienting Leinefelde began, and included devising a new city plan and economically reinventing itself to stop the decline of their community.
Town rebuilding to Leinefelde-Worbis
Town rebuilding was and is an executive function. To be able to be successful, local people realized they must work with a small management team, local politicians and various actors in Leinefeld, Worbis and two smaller towns save their community from decline. Citizens from the area were asked from the onset to give their input on planning alternatives with varied offers of cooperation. Still, the beginning of the process was dominated by townsfold being angry about the first demolitions of buildings to achieve their new plan to shrink Leinefelde-Worbis to a more manageable level but improve the quality of life for all in terms of jobs, housing and public facilities, services and amenities. The overall vision of the Lienefelde-Worbis plans was to be: more green, and create more parking and public amenities (opportunities to play). As the physical, and political improvements were gradually implemented, scepticism gave way to curiosity and the refusal to the wish to be able to profit also of the new qualities. Today these aspects are an essential part of the successful history of Leinefelde.
Beside these positive results in Leinefelde, there were certain problems, including the falling population figures. To protect the balance between country and town, in 2003 Leinefelde was united with the neighbouring town of Worbis. By combining the urban functions and services, it was able to serve the surrounding rural populations more effectively and economically.
The municipality Leinefelde-Worbis, formerly Eastern Germany, has consciously worked to integrate, while addressing the challenges of depopulation, a shrinking economy and dilapidated building, and vacant land. New employment opportunities were created, the urban infrastructure and the residential sphere were significantly improved, and more than 2,500 flats were altered with a high ecological 'green building' standard.
The project “ZukunftsWerkStadt ("FutureWorkTown") is designed to achieve a long lasting effect in urban development in spite of dramatic changes that happened in the east of Germany after the reunion.
The “ZukunftsWerkStadt" (FutureWorkTown) Projects goals are:
- To contribute dramatically to the improvement of the living conditions, the urban infrastructure and the environment;
- To create new employment opportunities and job centers;
- To create attractive, diverse and affordable living space, especially flats;
- To give priority to modernizing and repairing flats and also measures for the residential sphere improvement
- To take up complementary measures to the empty trinkets fight (?).
- To promote social and economic stability and support an active lifestyle
(Not edited) In the first years after the turn, at one time when in the new and in the old federal states hardly somebody was ready to think in the great housing developments with sinking numbers of inhabitants about the subject, demolition or partial demolition this possibility was discussed in the group with other measures in Leinefelde already constructively: On basis of the frame plan adopted by the town council as well as the revaluation investments, the public hand as well as the house building society on the town were able to planning relevant areas – they could be steered since 1995. Under the direction of the mayor and his team a persuasive draught could be developed in continuous cooperation with a planning office for the Redevelopment of the town Leinefelde. Beside the conceptual considerations to the rebuilding of the great housing development "south town" the subject of the revaluation of the historical city centre was worked on at the same time: This was an important condition for the fact that in the population for the other concentration of public investments in the south town a wide support could be found.
At the same time big strains were started fetching back new jobs in the town. In contrast to many other East German towns on this occasion, Leinefelde did not execute the demolition of the available structures, but decided "to leave" blank falling trade surfaces first of all. This decision was right, the politics of the long breath has paid off: Under skilful use of contacts with tradition-conscious economics from the west 2000 new jobs could be created till this day.
Beside the conceptual bases of the planning, the built result is also convincing, particularly in the architecture quality of the realised projects – also with the rebuilding of the floor house buildings like with the most different new buildings. In this conversion process of the long term invested planning, experience were gained and new perspectives were opened which one may call all over the country as a pointing the way: Partial back constructions from 1.5 to 2 floors are in Leinefelde in the meantime a standard. The back construction of a more than 200-m-long construction block to eight separate town villas, also the variety of the forms in the transformation of ground floor zones is especially innovative.
Under the direction of the engaged mayor, who understands the urban development as a central job, a forerunner function has been developed for Leinefelde not only at land level and national level meanwhile, in addition, separate worldwide. As a proof of it the town got the prize World Habitat Award of the United Nations in 2007. Since the presentation on the Expo in 2000 delegations come from all over the world to utilise the experiences from Leinefelde to themselves. Also the inhabitants have thereby developed a good self-confidence and strong sense of belonging to her town.
Finally one can say that the positive development of the town is based on the basis of a relentless analysis. She served as a basis for a draught capable of consensus which was cut on the situation and was pursued afterwards with all compulsory flexibility and consequence. Standing property is constantly important and absolutely also the necessary little quantity luck, then miracles become feasible.
Today the town stands for: successful participation to Expo 2000 and Expo 2010 in Shanghai, town prizes, architecture prize, World Habitat Award, Sir Acombie Prize, city reconstruction, urban development...
REF: http://www.leinefelde-worbis-tourismus.de/English-Sites/worbis.htm
Eichsfeld (district)
Eichsfeld is a district in Thuringia, Germany, and part of the historical region of Eichsfeld. It is bounded by the districts of Nordhausen, Kyffhäuserkreis and Unstrut-Hainich, and by the states of Hesse and Lower Saxony .-History:In medieval times the Eichsfeld, which is larger than the...
, in northwestern Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The town was formed on March 16, 2004, from the former independent towns Leinefelde and Worbis along with the municipalities of Breitenbach and Wintzingerode. The population before the amalgamation was 14,387 for Leinefelde, 5,541 for Worbis, 1,021 for Breitenbach and 614 for Wintzingerode.
Overview
Since 1997 Worbis has become known for its bear sanctuary, which is operated by Aktion Tier – Menschen für Tiere (formerly Deutsches Tierhilfswerk. (Alternativer Bärenpark Worbis).Leinefelde is the birthplace of Johann Carl Fuhlrott
Johann Carl Fuhlrott
Prof. Dr. Johann Carl Fuhlrott was born December 31, 1803 in Leinefelde, Germany, and died October 17, 1877 in Elberfeld, . He is famous for recognizing the significance of the bones of Neanderthal 1, a Neanderthal specimen discovered by German laborers who were digging for limestone in Neander...
, the discoverer of Neanderthal man.
Worbis is the birthplace of Bernard Quaritch
Bernard Quaritch
Bernard Quaritch, full name Bernard Alexander Christian Quaritch, was a German-born British bookseller and collector....
(1819-1899), the London second-hand bookseller and publisher.
Situation at the beginning (take from the Leinefelde-Worbis website - with some of the English grammar revised because the website had some incoherent English translation)
A situation in 1989/1990: After the reunification of Germany, this area was dominated by big prefabricated building settlements and a destitute city centres in Leinefelde and Worbis. There was also a decline in the birthrate and a massive drift by the young the former West Germany. To stop the population decline and negative social and economic impactts to this area, various and immediate measures were initiated by the four towns in the area. Various measures approved by the popuulace included modernizing and repairing flats, economic development, and improved public open spaces.
Improvements not only called for repairing and modernizing buildings and infrastructure but changing the politics of this historic area of Germany so it did not end up looking like Detroit after its population fled.
Situation in Leinefelde (south town)
For many years the town to Leinefelde - Worbis, situated in the northwest edge of Thuringia, was known for its unique and historic architecture but was now full deteriorating prefabricated buildings. Many new jobs were created in Leinefelde by the introduction of big cotton mills after WWII. These mills led to 60 years of growth and prosperity, including the construction of nearly 4000 modern apartments and complementary facilities, such as shopping centre, sports facilities, day-care centres and schools south of the town. It was only in 1969 that Leinefelde was classified as a town and this led to a more intensive development stage. In 1989the existing prefabricated building settlements in Leinfelde accounted for 14,000 inhabitants. While the amount of prefabricated building flats had rose in Leinefelde, the balance of carefully planned live/work was suddently destroyed in 1989. With the reunification of Germany, the town vision was broke in competition not only with the lure of West Germany, but the global world markets. From this moment, the job of the rebuilding and reorienting Leinefelde began, and included devising a new city plan and economically reinventing itself to stop the decline of their community.
Town rebuilding to Leinefelde-Worbis
Town rebuilding was and is an executive function. To be able to be successful, local people realized they must work with a small management team, local politicians and various actors in Leinefeld, Worbis and two smaller towns save their community from decline. Citizens from the area were asked from the onset to give their input on planning alternatives with varied offers of cooperation. Still, the beginning of the process was dominated by townsfold being angry about the first demolitions of buildings to achieve their new plan to shrink Leinefelde-Worbis to a more manageable level but improve the quality of life for all in terms of jobs, housing and public facilities, services and amenities. The overall vision of the Lienefelde-Worbis plans was to be: more green, and create more parking and public amenities (opportunities to play). As the physical, and political improvements were gradually implemented, scepticism gave way to curiosity and the refusal to the wish to be able to profit also of the new qualities. Today these aspects are an essential part of the successful history of Leinefelde.
Beside these positive results in Leinefelde, there were certain problems, including the falling population figures. To protect the balance between country and town, in 2003 Leinefelde was united with the neighbouring town of Worbis. By combining the urban functions and services, it was able to serve the surrounding rural populations more effectively and economically.
The municipality Leinefelde-Worbis, formerly Eastern Germany, has consciously worked to integrate, while addressing the challenges of depopulation, a shrinking economy and dilapidated building, and vacant land. New employment opportunities were created, the urban infrastructure and the residential sphere were significantly improved, and more than 2,500 flats were altered with a high ecological 'green building' standard.
The project “ZukunftsWerkStadt ("FutureWorkTown") is designed to achieve a long lasting effect in urban development in spite of dramatic changes that happened in the east of Germany after the reunion.
The “ZukunftsWerkStadt" (FutureWorkTown) Projects goals are:
- To contribute dramatically to the improvement of the living conditions, the urban infrastructure and the environment;
- To create new employment opportunities and job centers;
- To create attractive, diverse and affordable living space, especially flats;
- To give priority to modernizing and repairing flats and also measures for the residential sphere improvement
- To take up complementary measures to the empty trinkets fight (?).
- To promote social and economic stability and support an active lifestyle
(Not edited) In the first years after the turn, at one time when in the new and in the old federal states hardly somebody was ready to think in the great housing developments with sinking numbers of inhabitants about the subject, demolition or partial demolition this possibility was discussed in the group with other measures in Leinefelde already constructively: On basis of the frame plan adopted by the town council as well as the revaluation investments, the public hand as well as the house building society on the town were able to planning relevant areas – they could be steered since 1995. Under the direction of the mayor and his team a persuasive draught could be developed in continuous cooperation with a planning office for the Redevelopment of the town Leinefelde. Beside the conceptual considerations to the rebuilding of the great housing development "south town" the subject of the revaluation of the historical city centre was worked on at the same time: This was an important condition for the fact that in the population for the other concentration of public investments in the south town a wide support could be found.
At the same time big strains were started fetching back new jobs in the town. In contrast to many other East German towns on this occasion, Leinefelde did not execute the demolition of the available structures, but decided "to leave" blank falling trade surfaces first of all. This decision was right, the politics of the long breath has paid off: Under skilful use of contacts with tradition-conscious economics from the west 2000 new jobs could be created till this day.
Beside the conceptual bases of the planning, the built result is also convincing, particularly in the architecture quality of the realised projects – also with the rebuilding of the floor house buildings like with the most different new buildings. In this conversion process of the long term invested planning, experience were gained and new perspectives were opened which one may call all over the country as a pointing the way: Partial back constructions from 1.5 to 2 floors are in Leinefelde in the meantime a standard. The back construction of a more than 200-m-long construction block to eight separate town villas, also the variety of the forms in the transformation of ground floor zones is especially innovative.
Under the direction of the engaged mayor, who understands the urban development as a central job, a forerunner function has been developed for Leinefelde not only at land level and national level meanwhile, in addition, separate worldwide. As a proof of it the town got the prize World Habitat Award of the United Nations in 2007. Since the presentation on the Expo in 2000 delegations come from all over the world to utilise the experiences from Leinefelde to themselves. Also the inhabitants have thereby developed a good self-confidence and strong sense of belonging to her town.
Finally one can say that the positive development of the town is based on the basis of a relentless analysis. She served as a basis for a draught capable of consensus which was cut on the situation and was pursued afterwards with all compulsory flexibility and consequence. Standing property is constantly important and absolutely also the necessary little quantity luck, then miracles become feasible.
Today the town stands for: successful participation to Expo 2000 and Expo 2010 in Shanghai, town prizes, architecture prize, World Habitat Award, Sir Acombie Prize, city reconstruction, urban development...
REF: http://www.leinefelde-worbis-tourismus.de/English-Sites/worbis.htm