Redevelopment at Döppersberg

Visited the construction site at Wuppertal’s Döppersberg last night. It is a fairly large and complex project to redevelop the area between Wuppertal main station and the inner city. What makes it so remarkable is that it is located on a steep slope (the station sits on a hillside). They have already started taking away the very top of the hill that the station used to border in order to make space for a new central bus station.

While the plans look quite attractive, it is a bit sad that Wuppertal will lose its unique station square and tunnel connecting the station with the inner city. The old (and now still existing Döppersberg) is a landmark of neglected modernism. It is a unique experience. leaving the main station and walking down this narrow, run down and yet busy tunnel-system - it will soon be gone.

Zwischennutzungsagentur

I believe, initiatives like these should be a standard in all cities. I found this example of Wuppertal, but know about similar things in Berlin. Even cities that have an image of themselves as growing and flourishing need to cope with “waste” space. This is not an admittance of weakness but a true appreciation of urbanity. Why, then, do so few cities follow this approach?