Schwarzatal Blick auf Schwarzburg_Foto Thomas Müller

Schwarzatal Blick auf Schwarzburg_Foto Thomas Müller
Aus dem IBA Kandidaten ›Resilientes Schwarzatal‹ sind mehrere IBA Projekte erwachsen. Sie stärken die zivilgesellschaftlichen Kräfte der Region und bringen neue Akteur:innen ins Tal. Damit erhoffen sich die Projektbeteiligten auch eine Stärkung der Demokratie und des sozialen Zusammenhaltes. Außerdem bedarf es im Sinne nachhaltiger Infrastruktur und Bauweisen eines grundsätzlichen Umdenkens bei der Entwicklung des Tals. Die vorhandenen Ressourcen sollen geschont und weitergenutzt werden, insbesondere die vielen leeren Häuser der Region.

Schwarzatal, Sommerfrische Open Day

Schwarzatal, Sommerfrische Open Day

Revival of a valley

The valley of the Schwarzatal was for generations a popular summer holiday destination. In the 19th century, especially during the period of industrialisation, city dwellers headed to the cooler climes of the countryside to escape the heat and bustle of the cities and relax in bucolic surroundings. Evidence of this tradition can still be seen in the typical summer resort architecture of the region.

The valley of the Schwarzatal stretches 53 kilometres along the River Schwarza on the northern edge of the hills of the Thuringian Schiefergebirge.

Holidaymakers stayed in small hotels and guesthouses – the so-called summer resort houses – which reflect the local building traditions and materials of the day. Their characteristic loggias and balconies opened onto the landscape.

Many of these impressive houses are now disused and without a clear use concept are increasingly falling into disrepair.

Students from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences present design concepts for the revival of these houses in the “Alte Post” as part of the “Sommerfrische Open Day” in 2019.

The “Sommerfrische Open Day” takes place once a year, and since 2015 has attracted thousands of visitors to the Schwarzatal where they can visit the summer resort houses, enjoy coffee and cake, delight in the pleasant countryside and witness first-hand the successive revival of the valley.

For further information and details of the next open day, visit www.sommerfrische-schwarzatal.de.

IBA_Schwarzatal_Card series-1.jpg

IBA_Schwarzatal_Card series-1.jpg
Postcards from the “Sommerfrische Open Day” in 2017. Industrialist’s villa, Unterweißbach. Photo (cropped): Büro für Urbane Projekte

IBA_Schwarzatal_card series-3.jpg

IBA_Schwarzatal_card series-3.jpg
Postcards from the “Sommerfrische Open Day” in 2017. Close to the source of the Schwarza near Alsbach. Photo: Kai-Uwe Schulte-Bunert

IBA_Schwarzatal_card series-2.jpg

IBA_Schwarzatal_card series-2.jpg
Postcards from the “Sommerfrische Open Day” in 2017. Hotel "Schlossberg", Schwarzburg. Photo (cropped): Dörthe Hagenguth
1 / 3