Dresden Neustadt -- Old Urban Form as a Place for Contemporary Urbanism

Dresden Neustadt: Old Urban Form as a Place for Contemporary Urbanism Raymond Isaacs Since the 1990 re-unification of Germany, the Outer Neustadt quarter in Dresden has evolved from a neglected slum into a bohemian republic and again into a vibrant urban neighborhood. Multiple communities—overlap­ ping, dynamic, social entities—have emerged, within and around a built urban form that is enduring, yet adaptable. The simple, coherent spatial network, open to improvisa­ tion while maintaining its structural integrity, accommo­ dates complex social networks, which comprise what has been casually referred to as the Neustadt Urbanitat. Dresden's Neustadt (New Town) lies on the east side of the Elbe River, across from the city's palatial center. U n t i l the early nineteenth century, elaborate fortifications contained the original city center. The Outer Neustadt, just outside of the city walls and the Baroque city entrance, remained relatively undeveloped until the walls were removed. Streets were added and extended incrementally, with the current, imperfect grid of narrow streets in place by the end of the nineteenth century. Development occured mostly during a period of rapid industrial and commercial expansion, the building stock consisting pri­ marily of workers' housing in three- to five-story structures that lined the streets shoulder to shoulder. Upper levels consisted of flats; small shops and businesses occupied ground level along most streets. T h e Outer Neustadt was left relatively unscathed by both the war and the central planning of the East German (GDR) Communists. Under the motto of air, light and sun, GDR architects and planners aggressively promoted mass-produced housing blocks surrounded by green, park-like environments. [1] Another motto could have been order, efficiency, and control, given the rigid political structure and mechanical way of producing hous­ ing. Areas not conducive to order, efficiency and control were allowed to deteriorate, physically and socially, then cleared for new residential construction. Indeed, the Outer Neustadt was slated for demolition but saved by the col­ lapse of the GDR. [2] A t the time of re-unification, the basic physical structure of the district was largely intact, but the official neglect and institutional disregard for private prop­ erty had left the buildings and infrastructure crumbling. The Rise and Fall of the Bunte Republik Neustadt Just as the Outer Neustadt's urban structure did not conform with the planning and construction principles o f the G D R , neither did the residents of the Neustadt com­ port with the ideals of Communist citizenship. According to anecdotes, as buildings were abandoned by their owners, they were occupied by misfits and dissidents. Following the collapse of the G D R , the Neustadt con­ tinued as an enclave of non-conformance, fueled by the arrival of many young people from both eastern and west­ ern Germany. I t was a time and place of both individualism and cooperation, when people of different backgrounds All photOS and graphics hy Raymond Isaacs. Unrenovated Building in che Outer Neustadt. Places 14.3

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