Stadtwirtschaft

From the old Stadtwirtschaft to a cultural hotspot for makers.

The former depot of the municipal utility on the southern Sonnenberg offers plenty of space for new, creative ideas. As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025, the entire area is being developed into a Makerspace, a space for creative makers – the Stadtwirtschaft.

In the Stadtwirtschaft, a mix of uses is to be created from art and culture, manufacturing with local relevance and handicrafts, as well as social encounters, which will create completely new fields of activity through synergy effects among each other. Together with a neighbourhood canteen and user-led development through participation processes, the city is carrying out a model project of the co-produced city at this location.

What has already happened.

The courtyards of the Stadtwirtschaft have already been used fors two cultural flea market as part of Culture Summer 2021. The bicycle cinema has also been a guest at the Stadtwirtschaft for the festival Hang zu Kultur 2021. Soon there will be a series of workshops on design and functionality, which are currently being planned. This also includes the development of an operating model that will give the location a long-term perspective even after 2025.

Everyone can and should participate in order to develop the location together.

TO THE DRAFT CONCEPT

On the way to 2025.

A total of 5 buildings with a usable floor space of approx. 6,000 sqm will be redeveloped at a low threshold until 2025 in order to preserve the character of the site and leave as many possibilities for use as possible. The basis for the entire development of the site is the development scenario of the architectural firm KAPOK Berlin, which was adopted by the city council in spring 2021 and elaborated the potential of the site.

Come by!

Many interested Chemnitz residents came to the Stadtwirtschaft for the nationwide Urban Development Day on Saturday 14 May 2022. Grit Stillger from the project management of the urban planning office explained the concrete plans for the intervention site together with the district manager for creative industries, Rocco Zühlke. By 2025, a Maker Hub – a place for and with creative makers – will be developed there in the Sonnenberg neighbourhood. Eckert Roßberg from the Sonnenberg History Working Group told many interesting stories about the history of the Stadtwirtschaft since the 19th century. More than 130 years ago, the Chemnitz fertiliser disposal company settled there. With a look at the current building plans and the large garages in the courtyard, the visitors soon had a good idea of what will be possible there in the future. Meanwhile, the youngest marvelled at the puppet workshop of the Urania-Puppentheater, one of the creative tenants in Haus D, which has already been occupied.

The federal and state governments support the city economy.

This is one of the reasons why the Stadtwirtschaft can call itself a “National Urban Development Project 2021”. The project with special national significance is funded by this programme as well as by urban development funds.

To the Stadtwirtschaft Website

City Council resolution

What's planned.

Each courtyard is assigned to a specific maker activity and is surrounded by workshop spaces. There will also be space for community activities, for theatre projects, an event space e.g. for district meetings and workshops or the Kiezkantine for working together over a coffee. A district warehouse will be available to tenants and the neighbourhood. In the courtyards there is space for handicrafts, for joint experimentation, urban gardening, for small festivals and markets where the products are offered locally. Children will find just as much to offer in the “city economy” as hobby tinkerers and start-ups. Lighting concepts, flexible street furniture and a “Stadtwirtschaft” brand are being developed together.

Now it's your turn.

You want to be part of this development?

Is the location important to you?

Do you have ideas that we should definitely consider?

Text us!

We look forward to your ideas, impulses and inspirations.

Contact person: Julia Kunze

Mail: julia.kunze@stadt-chemnitz.de