The UBC Smart and Prospering & Planning Cities Commissions held the Seminar District of the Future on 14-17 June 2022 in Kiel.
25 city planners and project developers from UBC member cities: Aarhus, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Hamburg, Kaunas, Kiel, Liepaja, Parnu, Riga, Rostock, Söderhamn, Turku and Vaasa were discussing keys to success for the development of a ninety-two hectare former military site Holtenau Ost, where the city of Kiel is planning the District of the Future.
The Seminar was opened at the Waterkant Festival venue at Kiel Holtenau Ost on Wednesday. The participants were welcome by Wolfgang Schmidt (UBC Smart & Prospering Commission), Paulina Szewczyk (UBC Planning Cities Commission) and Tim Logan, (Waterkant Festival). They were introduced to the planning actualities and the workshop area challenges. The Holtenau-Ost Masterplan was presented and the area discovered by bike. Søren Leth and Lars Jensen (SLETH Office for architecture and planning, Aarhus/Copenhagen) gave an inspiring lecture.
On Thursday, right after an input from SMACKER Interreg Project by Karolina Marszałkowska (City of Gdynia), participants took part in the Workshop. Three groups were brainstorming, discussing and working on the ideas, making drafts of the urban concepts. In the evening participants experienced new ideas and amazing people at Waterkant Startup Festival.
On Friday, the results of the Workshop were presented to invited guests including politicians, media representatives and the residents of Kiel, that took part in lively discussion. The dominating ideas were that the identity of Holtenau-Ost could be built on existing buildings, details and urban structures. Connections could be created in suistainable and smart way, including water taxis/ferries. The area has a potential to become a new urban centre, a destination, 5-min city with mix-use, nice public spaces and greenery. The life is already there – activities like Waterkant Festival could remain and even be extended to bring more interest to that area. There is a chance to build sustainable, all age community with smart technologies in Holtenau-Ost.
