Munich has everything – apart from affordable rental space. That’s why artists in the city often find it difficult to play around with their ideas and experiment artistically without any time pressure. Luckily, the new creative quarter provides a place where living, art and work come together and thoughts can run free.
What a luxury: Lots of expensive space is reserved for ideas and projects in the middle of Munich. An urban district is being created on the land between Dachauerstrasse, Lothstrasse, Schwere-Reiter-Strasse, Hessstrasse and Infanteriestrasse, where living and work can combine with art, culture and knowledge. The 20-hectare area is located near the Olympiapark (Olympic Park) between the popular districts of Schwabing and Neuhausen.
The cityscape is quite surprising here, featuring old industrial buildings, graffiti and overgrown gardens. Graphic artists and advertisers bounce around ideas during a picnic on the lawn, while others enjoy their lunch break on benches in the sun – it’s an inspiring atmosphere.
Lots of things are still in the making, but quite a lot is already going on in one part, as artists and designers run their studios and workshops here. Actors rehearse on stage and perform their finished plays. Start-ups research alternative models for peaceful coexistence in society. It’s a vibrant and creative scene that even encourages visitors to rethink things.
But housing isn’t just given away here: There are plans to build at least 820 apartments, a primary school, a new university building and public green spaces. The central public space for everyone will be the Jutierhalle and Tonnenhalle buildings.
The creative quarter is divided into four areas: the Creative Park, Creative Laboratory, Creative Platform and Creative Field. These should ultimately be used as follows:
In the Creative Park between Hessstrasse and Dachauer Strasse, the vacant, listed industrial buildings (Jutierhalle and Tonnenhalle) will be used for cultural and creative activities. There are also plans to build a centre for start-ups and innovation.
In the Creative Laboratory right by Leonrodplatz square, the aim is to use the old and new buildings for a range of urban uses like culture, creativity, housing, social schemes, trade and retail. A city kindergarten is being built there, as well as 79 apartments – and potentially even more.
The Creative Platform in the southern section of the area will be the site of an additional campus for the local University of Applied Sciences. New buildings are also being constructed with around 395 apartments, as well as another kindergarten.
The site of the former Luitpoldkaserne (barracks) is being transformed into a Creative Field, a green space for living, working and learning. The city wants to build 325 apartments, a primary school and another kindergarten.
Performances, exhibitions, workshops and concerts are already being held throughout the area. If you’d like to find out more about the artists and plans for the area, you can come along on the second Thursday of every month. The local artists will be happy to answer all your questions on a walk through the creative quarter.
