 | Urban Restructuring – Urban Development in Germany in the 1980s The challenges facing urban policy are changing increasingly rapidly in the
same way as technical, economic and social conditions. This article outlines
important development approaches and milestones of societal and urban change
during the 1980s in Germany.
During the 1980s the economic structural change in the Federal Republic of
Germany brought far-reaching changes in the society. Against this background
residential and leisure behaviour also changed. The housing requirements of many
people showed a preference for an own home in a green area. In the German
Democratic Republic, too, migrational losses became apparent in the individual
main focuses of housing. The changes in the working world demanded more mobility
from the gainfully employed. Also altered leisure activities led to an increased
transport volume.
In the Federal Republic of Germany in housing policy the emphases were
altered in favour of the creation of ownership, particularly the promotion of
owner-occupied homes. At the same time hand urban policy was primarily oriented
to the inner development of the cities. Under the pressure of stagnating
economic and population development and an increased environmental awareness,
elements of an ecologically-oriented urban development became increasingly
important: maintaining existing buildings and reuse of brownfields with priority
over outward development. In the German Democratic Republic, too, the value
concepts slowly changed. Hence, established urban structures increased in esteem
as a result of new urban-sociological and urban policy research. However, in
practice there was a lack of necessary reconstruction and redevelopment
measures.
In the Federal Republic of Germany the orientation towards existing building
stock was accompanied by an increased commitment of citizens. This manifested
itself in the shape of formal and informal participation. Furthermore,
particularly in the large cities, numerous resident projects established
themselves. In the official policy of the German Democratic Republic the logic
of minimising expenses in new construction and neglecting old buildings
increased even further. Several new building districts remained unfinished. At
the same time the decay of existing building fabric was obvious.
Until the 1980s considerably different value assessments had emerged in the
populations of East and West Germany with regard to districts with old buildings
and areas of new buildings. In the German Democratic Republic, because of the
neglected structural state of old buildings, living in large new building
districts tended to be seen in a positive light. In contrast, in the Federal
Republic of Germany a greater esteem for living in modernised old buildings had
emerged during the 1970s and 1980s.
National expert:
Manfred Fuhrich
Organisation: Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning Function: Head of Section I 2 – Urban Development |
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