In the seminar "Urban development typologies - architecture journalism workshop: We write about architecture", students at the Chair of Urban Housing and Development deal with architectural journalism. The lecturer is the editor and building historian Ulrich Coenen.

The twelve seminar participants research under supervision and write articles about architecture, urban planning and monument preservation. The journalistic forms of presentation interview, architectural criticism, report, reportage, commentary and specialist book review are practiced. The seminar will be offered for the second time after 2023 at the Chair of Urban Housing and Development.

Detailed information about the seminar: https://ulrichcoenen.de/SS24.htm

The first assignment this semester was an interview with Andreas Grube, district chairman of the Karlsruhe/North Baden Chamber of Architects. Grube is a partner at GJL+ Architekten.

The students prepared the questions for Andreas Grube in one session and conducted the interview with him together in the next session. Everyone then wrote an interview.

As is usual in German journalism, the interview published here was authorized by Carolin Stolz before publication by Andreas Grube. With this approach, the seminar is based on professional standards.

"I see a huge opportunity"

Andreas Grube, Chairman of the Karlsruhe Chamber of Architects, comments on the future of the retail sector

What is the future of Karlsruhe's city center and what are the current challenges that not only Karlsruhe is struggling with? In this interview, Andreas Grube, District Chairman of the Karlsruhe/North Baden Chamber of Architects, reveals the weaknesses and opportunities of today's city centers.

How do you feel about this? against the background the background of the streetcar conversion, how do you feel walking through Kaiserstraße in Karlsruhe?

Grube: At the moment, it's an unsatisfactory and oppressive feeling. The vacancy rate is extreme and the conversion has not yet been completed. The rails are currently being removed, which is not easy.

What are the reasons for this?

Grube: This is due to many developments. The underground tram was completed almost ten years too late. E-commerce is a huge issue. There are few owner-managed stores, instead there are many brands that simply rent retail space. These are all points that are not satisfactory.

Kaiserstraße is Karlsruhe's main shopping street. Some buildings have been moved back six meters from the second floor. Do you see potential in this?

Grube: Absolutely. We need to find out what is typical for our city. Alongside the fan-shaped layout, this is one of those things. We have also looked at the question of what Kaiserstrasse should look like and how it can be designed. In Munich, there was once a project with hanging gardens. If you can place things like that, it's good and important. Another approach would be to create arcades, which would make the street space narrower.

What do you think of arcades?

Grube: I don't think that would be so good. Generosity is important. The space that opens upwards is good to play with.

Are there any cities that could serve as examples that you could perhaps learn from in terms of redesigning Kaiserstrasse?

Grube: I don't know of any city where everything is wonderful. All cities struggle and have difficulties, especially with large structures. In small towns and medium-sized cities, there is still an ownership structure. That's a good thing. You can see a commitment to public spaces. The spaces are used. In the big city of Karlsruhe, you experience this on a very small scale. The festival in the southern Waldstraße is an example. It was initiated by the owners and the local traders. But such things should actually be the responsibility of everyone. Südliche Waldstraße is only a small street, that's not much for the whole city.

How attractive is the "Ettlinger Tor" concept, i.e. a shopping center, compared to a shopping street?

Grube: I believe that the era of shopping galleries is over. The large retail spaces need to be broken down into smaller units again. Personal initiative is absolutely essential. There should be more, what I now deliberately call "small neighborhoods", where people consciously get involved. This could lead to small cafés or a tailor's shop or other things. I believe there is huge potential in this.

Does the current policy of the city of Karlsruhe promote the development of small neighborhoods and small stores?

Grube: That depends on the planning will on the one hand and, of course, on the owners on the other. In my opinion, the owners bear a huge amount of responsibility. It is not mandatory to give a retail space to the highest bidding tenant. Owners must be aware of their responsibility to the city, especially when stores are in prominent locations. Take the Schöpf or, in the past, Hammer & Helbig: these were owners who identified with their city and, of course, they also made their contribution. Unfortunately, that is no longer so pronounced, it has to be said.

And now?

Grube: There are now positive trends. The city is trying to acquire real estate in order to steer development. I see a huge opportunity there. However, the process is not finished overnight, so we simply have to keep working on it. But the approach is the right one.

Do you have any ideas on how to repurpose the large department store properties?

Grube: If retail is still planned for the first floor and second floor, an alternative use must be found for the upper floors. This could possibly be residential, it could be offices, it could be services, from medical care to services of all kinds.

What could that look like?

Grube: We are currently developing a concept for two properties of the Galeria dynasty with our office GJL+. We are cutting them open completely on the inside so that we can get light into the buildings. In both cases, these are studies on how such buildings can be used in the future so that they don't have to be demolished straight away.

What could a functioning city center look like today? Especially against the backgroundthat the really large properties no longer function as pure retail outlets?

Grube: In my opinion, it absolutely has to be a mix. We need a combination like the one that used to be common in city centers. Living in the city center has to become attractive again. That is important. A legal framework must be created for this and the building use regulations should be adapted. In my view, we need to tackle this issue. This development needs to be pushed.

The interview was conducted by Carolin Stolz