The new IBA of Emscher Park: an ecological regeneration project

Abstract

The paper talks of the well established german tradition of posing problems to do with urbanism and related to architecture by means of great international exhibitions in which the major architects of the time take part and consequent upon which a part of the city is actually rebuilt as a permanent monument in time to the solutions come upon at such events. The example of this considered by the paper, the Internationale Bauausstellung Emscher Park exhibition to be celebrated from 1992 through to 1999 has as its object not the rehabilitation of a city, as did the previous Berlin IBA, but rather that of a whole territory and this in keeping with its environment. This pilot scheme which, it is felt, will lay down the lines for other further ecological reconversion schemes for industrial areas, embraces regenerative and restructuring initiatives for the Emscher river valley, an are a especially marked by its environmental conflicts as a consequence of heavy industrialization and mining, the which have laid waste its natural environment and, on the social side, thanks to the great changes in the system of production and the closing of its mines and industries, given rise to deep running unemployment and migration phenomena and, worse it is felt, the loss of all hope in the future.