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1989 |
The Bauhaus discovers Zschornewitz as a remarkable architectural location in an
industrial landscape |
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1990 |
/ 91 Students are commissioned by the Bauhaus to make initial analyses
and design proposals for the Colony |
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1992 |
The power station and the Colony are declared historical monuments The high capacity brown-coal power station is shut down |
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1993 |
/ 94 Partial demolition of the industrial plant, the historical core building
of the power station is renovated by the owner Preparations begin to redevelop the Colony |
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1995 |
The power station reopens as a »Cultural Power Station« (jazz, theater, classical and
other cultural events, exhibitions, conferences) |
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1996 |
The Colony is accepted as an EXPO project - a Bauhaus conference on »What shall we do
with the derelict?« is held in preparation for establishing a foundation for
»Industrial Culture« |
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1997 |
/ 99 Redevelopment of the Colony; public cultural events in the power station,
preparations are made for making it the seat of suitable businesses |
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a new life after coal
In 1915, after a fifteen-month construction period, the then largest steam power station
in the world was erected near rich deposits of coal. At the same time, the superbly
designed »Colony« - a works housing estate modeled on the Garden City - was constructed.
For a good seventy-five years, the power station and the brown-coal pits left their mark
on daily life in the industrial community of Zschornewitz. Following the economic
restructuring of the GDR, the pits and the power station were gradually closed down
in 1991. In the process, significant parts of the town's economic basis disappeared.
At the initiative of the Bauhaus, the Colony and parts of the power station were listed
as historical monuments in 1992. Following very controversial discussions in the initial
phase, a redevelopment concept was evolved in 1993/94 with the aim of revitalizing the
Colony in a way compatible with both social aspects and historical preservation. The goal
was to win over public and private owners for constructive participation, as some of the
row houses had already been privatized in 1991 and 1992. Hence, for the past six years,
the community has made sure to consult the house owners comprehensively on all questions
requiring support for building plans related to historical preservation. In June 1996,
the Colony housing estate was acknowledged as an EXPO project. Since then extensive renewal
measures have been carried out on both the buildings and public spaces.
The historical power station is the region's first redeveloped industrial monument. And as
a »Cultural Power Station«, it now has a new life: theater, acoustic art, conferences,
exhibitions, and serves as a nucleus for new (as well as commercial) perspectives for a
place that once wrote history and now suffers from high unemployment.
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