Osthang Darmstadt
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
The “Osthang”is a place of the arts and artists, of freedom and leisure, away from the concrete, noise and commerce: a small piece of forest, a unique place to meet and share, a real utopia. Located on the eastern slope of the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, the“Osthang” represents a modern experimental area: whether design, art, architecture, film, dance, theater or photography - everyone is welcome to join this open space and co-creative process to bring its temporary architecture into life
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
In the summer of 2014, the unused property of the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, the eastern slope:“Osthang”was brought back to the public life as a place for experimental building, thinking and living together. The "osthang project" festival of architecture and future forms of living together, laid the foundation for a contemporary and experimental addition to the historical site, accompanying the Nomination for inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since then, the eastern slope has been established as a lively place and experiment. As a project space for the arts, it has become an integral part of Darmstadt's cultural scene. In addition to exhibitions, workshops, lectures and events, this open space offers a platform for artistic experimentation and reinvention, a place for encounter and exchange between the disciplines as well as space for the co-creative process. The particular importance of the project lies in this profile of use, which at the same time creates a creative place and is an enrichment for visitors of all ages and professions. A place for young and old with easy access. The target group includes both those who work in culture and those interested in culture, as well as all other citizens who are happy to meet and share at this place. Groups of visitors from all over the world stroll through the park and take a piece of cultural impulse home with them. The “Osthang” represents a modern experimental area of meet and share in the mirror of the historically rich artist colony: whether design, art, architecture, film, dance, theater or photography - everyone is welcome to create, to design, and to experience. Since 2015, the eastern slope and its temporary architectures has been awakened to new life every year: flea markets, exhibitions, concerts, workshops and festivals. The high density of project partners from different associations and institutes, from subculture and high culture as well, enable positive exchanges and community-building.
Key objectives for sustainability
The "Osthang" is a small piece of natural growth in the urban area of Darmstadt. The temporary architectures blend carefully into the green space, integrate trees, respect living spaces in the ground and vegetation without sealing or devaluing them. The usage concept and the cultural formats always focus on conveying sustainability and the conscious, careful use of resources with a view to material and cycles. In addition to the use of natural resources, the focus here is on recyclability. By locating various content formats on the topic of sustainability and cycles, such as food sharing, clothes and plant swapping and much more, awareness of this is sharpened through community involvement. The community garden is watered by a plant-based sewage treatment system, the topic of cycles is deepened in discourses and workshops on site and implemented experimentally on various levels. The University Group Sustainability is continuously involved in projects and spreads the idea of sustainability just like the various project partners. Every offer on site (e.g. drinks) is checked for its closeness and the added value is conveyed in a playful way as a matter of course.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Due to the involvement of architects, artists and creative professionals from all disciplines, in addition to the experimental, process-like character of the location, a high aesthetic standard is inextricably linked to the “Osthang” and its temporary architecture and experimental struktures. The positive aesthetic experience of the place is a prerequisite for its perception and the playful perception of the respective content. Nevertheless, there is a need for the space for the experiment and thus the space that allows for errors. Due to the framework in which the mistakes are allowed to happen, they are perceived as part of the process and result in the mixture of high-quality architecture, experiments in the context of university building workshops and the natural area is what makes the “Osthang” special. Various exhibition formats round off the experience always with a view to the visual experience. The casual visitor takes the process-like spirit and trying things out home with them as well as the finished buildings or exhibition formats that are presented at this place.
Key objectives for inclusion
The particular importance of the project lies in its profile of use, which at the same time creates a creative place and is an enrichment for visitors of all ages and professions. A place for young and old with easy access. The target group includes both those who work in culture and those interested in culture, as well as all other citizens who are happy to meet and share at this place. Groups of visitors from all over the world stroll through the park and take a piece of cultural impulse home with them. The “Osthang” represents a modern area of inclusion - everyone is welcome, everyone can access and participate.
Results in relation to category
For six years now, the eastern slope and its buildings have been an open place for cultural exchange in the historical sense of the Mathildenhöhe for every visitor. The eastern slope, students from various disciplines and volunteers have meanwhile become an inseparable image. Due to the open and changeable concept of the Osthang, the OHA Osthang collective has been formed in recent years, which has offered space to a wide variety of artists with a lot of voluntary commitment. The OHA event concept impresses with a rare mixture of sub and high culture, which not only harmonize well now, but should also be more closely interlinked. The eastern slope presents itself on a larger scale and in conjunction with other projects. A high density of project partners from different associations and institutes, from subculture and high culture alike, quickly formed, and they were integrated and coordinated in an overall calendar. Even now, the long-term project partners and friends of the Osthang are ready to support the OHA collective in the planned projects. The Osthang collective is not static. Due to the constant rotation of personnel around the closest circle of participants, the network is constantly expanded and receives new input, ideas, experience and competencies from a wide variety of professional and study fields. The Osthang offers a free platform for new concepts and, as part of the Mathildenhöhe, is inextricably linked with the disciplines of architecture, design, art and landscape. OHA has always framed each of the events and exhibitions in the freely accessible park that offers quality of stay and enables citizens to use and participate in this universal place. The eastern slope is a central meeting point and an important place for exchange.
How Citizens benefit
The “Osthang”is a place of freedom and leisure, away from the concrete, noise and commerce: a small piece of forest, an important place to meet an share, a real utopia. It has become an integral part of Darmstadt's cultural scene. And an important resort for all citizens. In addition to exhibitions, workshops, lectures and events, this open space offers a platform for artistic experimentation and reinvention, a place for encounter and exchange between the disciplines as well as space for the co-creative process. The particular importance of the project lies in this profile of use, which at the same time creates a creative place and is an enrichment for visitors of all ages and professions. A place for young and old with easy access. The target group includes both those who work in culture and those interested in culture, as well as all other citizens who are happy to meet and share at this place. Families love this place, children are playing and exporing the site while parents are participating.
Innovative character
The "Osthang" is freely accessible as a public area, open to everyone and offers a wide variety of formats for a wide variety of users. The special importance of the project and the innovative approach of linking reforming approaches lies in the communication and the self-evident implementation of socially relevant topics such as sustainability and inclusion and in the connection of subculture and high culture, of experiment with aesthetic demands in the juxtaposition of history and the present. Its profile of use, which at the same time creates a creative place and is an enrichment for visitors of all ages and professions. A place for young and old with easy access. The target group includes both those who work in culture and those interested in culture, as well as all other citizens who are happy to meet and share at this place. Groups of visitors from all over the world stroll through the park and take a piece of cultural impulse home with them. The “Osthang” represents a modern experimental area of meet and share in the mirror of the historically rich artist colony: whether design, art, architecture, film, dance, theater or photography - everyone is welcome to create, to design, and to experience. The high density of project partners from different associations and institutes, from subculture and high culture as well, enable positive exchanges and community-building.
