Abstract
Chemnitz is a city located in the State of Saxony, a former Eastern Germany (GDR) industrial hotspot. The city has witnessed a fascinating history of industrial revolution and technological innovation throughout its past, having been considered the German Manchester back in the 19th and early 20th century. The second world war bombings destroyed 80% of its architectural and cultural heritage, and forced a massive emigration in the mid 1940s. During the GDR, Chemnitz was renamed “Karl Marx City” as a homage to its working class population, soon after the German reunification in 1991, the original name was restored. Chemnitz is today a city of contrasts. Despite being a hub for innovation and technology, its society is divided. Groups of right wing extremists have been misusing circumstantial situations to polarize and feed controversy. In 2020 Chemnitz was successful in their application for European Capital of Culture in 2025. This competition had been identified by the city council and numerous civil organizations as an opportunity to recognize an own identity, promote pride about the shared heritage, but also to motivate the “silent middle” of the society to participate in reshaping the city physically and emotionally, and of being stronger than extremist minorities. This case study will describe the process and visions of Chemnitz from the planning perspective, and will try to translate this vision into potential revitalization opportunities for Chemnitz, which may be backed by the upcoming investments in projects, events and collaborations during the preparations and in the aftermath of 2025.
