In this overall view it was not existing before

	Leipzig's Deputy Mayor for Urban Development and Construction, Mr. Martin zur Nedden

Interview with Leipzig’s Deputy Mayor for Urban Development and Construction, Mr. Martin zur Nedden, on the exhibition NEW BUILDING LAND, published by Leipziger Volkszeitung, Nov. 19th, 2007.

Question: On Wednesday the exhibition NEW BUILDING LAND will be opened. Why it will be presented just in Leipzig?

Martin zur Nedden: Already during the period of making the exhibition concept by Deutsches Architekturmuseum in Frankfurt it got to know the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig. As a result, there have been some reflections to put it on show here in Leipzig, too. But that probably would not have been possible until 2008 and only without any architectural models. Later, in june 2007, I’ve been in Frankfurt for the opening of the exhibition there, because a considerable number of the presented buildings – 17 of 145 – came from Leipzig. Talking with the museum’s director, Mr. Peter Cachola Schmal, and others, there arose immediately our wishing for presenting it as early as possible in Leipzig. Simply why it is actual now. Thanks to some supporters, beneath them the Leipziger Volkszeitung, we are now the first city in the “Neue Laender” being able to offer this comprehensive view on East Germany’s development after the reunification to its inhabitants.

Question: What do you expect to gain by that?

Martin zur Nedden: Two things: On the one hand it is made plain by the big seized photographs, the films and the architect’s models that some kind of a considerable architecture came into being here in the east during the last 17 years. From the Zittau University Auditorium up to the Technology and Research Centre at the quayside in Wismar – in this overall view it was not existing before. By that, the high interest architecturally is not at all made plain by some large-scale projects like the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts, the Leipzig New Trade Fair Complex or the Leipzig BMW Factory Main Building which are presented also by the architect’s models. Some small buildings like the Urban Villas in Leinefelde are as satisfying works as those, too.

Question: And on the other hand?

Martin zur Nedden: Surely, there was also something which went wrong or is tainted with problems. The second part of the exhibition is attending to the urban reconstruction as a result of the loss of inhabitants. Regarding this part, I find the comparison between Leipzig, Halle, Cottbus and Hoyerswerda interesting. The curators are taking the credit for getting the citizens and the experts in the “Alte Laender” to understand this topic.

Question: In Leinefelde in Thuringia some huge structures built in the GDR has been sawn up after the reunification and transformed into lots of small Urban Villas. Why didn’t anything like this turn out well in the Grünau district of Leipzig?

Martin zur Nedden: In some way we have this in mind also here. In Grünau there have already been projects like these, but they failed by the grant conditions in the Land of Saxony. Now, the Federal government and the Land are going to rework the grant terms. If this would allow any projects in Saxony similar to those in Thuringia, the City of Leipzig will support these readily.

Question: Just one originally East German office of architects succeeded in becoming one of the 145 selected works of architecturally highest interest: the architects Ilg Friebe Nauber from Leipzig regarding the Maria-Montessori-School Centre in Leipzig-Grünau. Does this show “a break-in of globalized architecture in one of the culturally and architecturally richest regions of Europe”, how professor Dieter-J. Mehlhorn from Kiel criticized?

Martin zur Nedden: I think it would be difficult to regard where the architects come from. The important thing is that quality comes into being. In the exhibition you will find several offices sitting here after having transferred to Leipzig after the German reunification, for example Schulz+Schulz and their Cloud Laboratory of the Institute for Tropospheric Research. Others changed from the Neue Laender to Berlin or to one of the Old Federal States.

Question: Nonetheless, particularly old-established Leipzigers are speaking disparagingly about the Museum of Fine Arts. Concerning the new drafts regarding the Brühl estate you could hear again some opinions fearing the loss of identity.

Martin zur Nedden: I think that’s not a question of west and east architecture. This debate really revolves around the question: modern architecture or not? Professor Thomas Topfstedt has had a critical look at the Brühl-structures already during the GDR-period. The intention of inclusion of international styles has been playing a part in the film of DEFA “Die Architekten” which is very worth seeing, too. Incidentally, in my opinion the urban design of some big housing estates in the east turned out better than in the west – if they had not such a high structural density.

Question: In Frankfurt the audience was strutting on a carpet consisting of black-and-white shots. Some kind of a sink of iniquity of after-reunification-buildings where building culture has to be ruled out. Regarding the office buildings like biscuit rolls, the run-of-the-mill one’s own homes and the markets of suppliers of cheap goods, there have been poor examples in Leipzig, too. Will those also be shown?

Martin zur Nedden: The carpet of black-and-white shots didn’t overcome its Frankfurt period without any damage. But we want to try to present some greater jointed parts which are still well preserved. This would be some kind of background which will let shine the top performances all the more.

Question: With 17 top performances, Leipzig will be presented very well. With justification?

Martin zur Nedden: I think so. And I may say so because I have not been involved. In the debates among specialists, Leipzig was strongly represented since the early 90s. Here importance has been attached on quality. Surely, the rush of investors, and also the building history of this city, made it easier to set high criteria. But just the exhibition NEW BUILDING LAND demonstrates that a top quality architecture is not simply l’art pour l’art, but a condition of sustainable development. On the long term, only this type of buildings is easy to rent.

Interview: Jens Rometsch