Project 6: Marga Industrial Estate and Garden CityPower cathedrals and marigolds |
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Marga, Germany’s oldest garden city development, has for many years been a virtually forgotten »Sleeping Beauty.« After being kissed awake in the past few years, it has now been restored to its full glory, while the neighbouring industrial park in Brieske at Senftenberg has become an innovative production site for the new energy economy. Between them, the garden city and this site embody the original idea of uniting workplaces and housing. |
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INITIAL SITUATIONThe area between Grossräschen and Senftenberg became a focal point of industry in Lusatia – centred on the village of Bückgen. Starting in 1906, the historic Ilse Bergbau-Actiengesellschaft (I.B.A.) commissioned Dresden architect Georg Heinsius von Mayenburg to build a residential development in Brieske for its employees at the Marga trench and the nearby industrial complexes. The »Kolonie Marga«, with its unusual circular outline, was completed in 1914. Impressive art nouveau public buildings were grouped around the large, grand public marketplace. The infrastructure was excellent; besides sunny individual homes with their own gardens, it included a school, a department store, various businesses, the »Kaiserkrone« guesthouse, and even the community’s own church. |
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THE PROJECT’S PROGRESSThis industrial estate/garden city was central to the region’s heritage, making it an ideal IBA launch project – and the IBA has since been active in preserving and developing the residential development and the industrial park. The Treuhand Liegenschaftsgesellschaft (TLG), the development’s owner, restored it (while preserving its historic appearance) between 1998 and 2000 with the help of Brandenburg state funds. In 2000, Marga was part of the EXPO show. |
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FUTURE PROSPECTSThe derelict garden city has been preserved, renovated and largely brought back to life – but the old ballroom (part of the »Kaiserkrone«) has been standing empty for years. As a result of various Senftenberg cultural activists suggesting interesting possibilities, the ballroom – the last non-renovated part of Marga – is to be restored in 2011 by Lausitzer Bildungsträger gGmbH (a private company). Its users will include a dancing school, and it may also be useful to the nearby primary school. |
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Download the flyer: Marga Industrial Estate and Garden City (1.3 MB) |
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Our partnersLausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH |
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ApproachGo by car to Marga Industrial Estate and Garden City or by public transportation: |
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go back | |||||
last update: 1/26/2017 13:13 |
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