“What if we built a town from containers?” That question sparked PLATZprojekt. PLATZprojekt is a place where imagination takes shape.
PLATZprojekt in Hanover is more than just an area. It is a self-organized space. It thrives on the creative use of an industrial wasteland. Shipping containers form its basic structure.
In 2013, endboss initiated this project. It was on a brownfield site in Linden harbour. A skatepark had already been built nearby. 2er-Skateboarding e.V. created the largest DIY skatepark in Europe. Metro AG then offered the neighboring property free of charge. This allowed for further experimentation.
Supported by the Jugend.Stadt.Labor program, infrastructure was created. Electricity, water, and internet were added through self-organization. This enabled a growing community to implement their ideas. They built their own small urban district.
Since 2018, PLATZprojekt has been self-sustaining. The City of Hannover provides selective support. Around 40 ideas have been implemented on this site. Some have been honored by the government for creative entrepreneurship. PLATZprojekt is a Creative Place known far beyond Hanover. It is a best practice example of experimental urban development.
PLATZprojekt is an experimental field for people with ideas. It is for people with enthusiasm. Alternative uses of space are tested here. New financing approaches are also explored. These flow into the creation of a new community. The project builds on the informal appropriation of neighboring land. This land was developed into a skatepark.
PLATZprojekt embodies a “Do-ocracy”. Each person decides and acts. The PLATZ is defined by the people who make it. Young creatives and start-ups find an open field here. Around a “village square”, small businesses have emerged. There is a sewing studio. There is an open tattoo studio. Also, there is a massage container and a bicycle manufacturer. A container castle houses a workshop and artist residencies.
PLATZprojekt is not just about containers. It is about researching community building. It explores alternative uses of open space. Strategies for an “alternative marketplace” are tested. PLATZprojekt enriches the district. It adds new entrepreneurial forms. It provides a culturally and socially diverse offering.
PLATZprojekt’s impact extends beyond the district. A new urban community has emerged. The city administration recognizes its value. It contributes to the city’s young and experimental culture. The City of Hannover promotes PLATZprojekt as a best practice project. It exemplifies user-driven urban development.
One of the first containers became a bar. It was donated by Schauspiel Hannover. A terrace on the container roof serves as a meeting place. The bar has since expanded. It offers new possibilities after renovation. The core group meets here.
PLATZprojekt also features a community garden. It is a space for those with limited gardening space. The garden is constantly expanded. A complex of seven containers forms a “Containerburg”. It includes a PLATZ office, a workshop, and workspaces. There are plans for a residency program and studios for guest artists.
Café Laura Palmer offers treats regularly. It aims to sweeten visitors’ stay. It strengthens the sense of community. NÄHplatz is a co-working studio. Here, clothing is tailored. Gebrüder Höing-PirateCyclex is a young bicycle manufacturer. OpenInk is a shared studio for tattoo artists. Übersee is an office collective for architecture, urban planning, art, and graphic design.
PLATZprojekt features a clothing library. It caters to individual and professional users. The Massagecontainer offers massage and meditation. Financed by crowdfunding, it serves as a coworking space. Kinderwagen is a mobile home. It provides play opportunities for children. It creates a space for mothers to connect. Almost Art produces and sells PLATZ souvenirs.
PLATZprojekt embodies an open-ended development approach. It emphasizes experimentation. The project integrates various uses. It experiments with new business models. It also explores alternative forms of use. Information is exchanged about projects and participation. Innovative financing methods are tested. PLATZprojekt provides a framework for start-ups. It inspires companies in the creative industries.
PLATZprojekt received the German Neighborhood Award in 2019. In 2021, the Wüstenrot Foundation honored PLATZprojekt. It was awarded a recognition prize for Places for Democracy and Participation.
So, next time you see a container, remember PLATZprojekt. It’s more than just containers. It is about what people can create together. It shows that with a little space and a lot of imagination anything is possible.