Halberstadt

Cultivating Empty Space

IBA City from 2005

Emptiness has become a fixture in the old town of Halberstadt since World War II. With a shrinking population, reconstructing the old town in its historical dimensions has become an obsolete target. Ultimately, the town will remain perforated. Though gaps could be filled structurally, this should be avoided in favour of other available options. How can voids be cultivated into positive urban assets? Temporary as well as long-term interventions and art events in Halberstadt have creatively placed these voids in the focus of public attention, revealing both positive and negative aspects of their potential as a useful urban asset.