Through a range of strategies and carefully selected interventions the porcelain-city of Selb in the Fichtelgebirge region in Germany will be elevated to a regional center for art, trade, tourism, and culture. The winning Europan 11 proposal, titled Dornröschen – Reinitializing Selb or ‘Kissing awake the sleeping beauty’, by NAP (Network of Architects & Planners) will act as the nucleus for future development. In juxtaposition to the well-established and intact city center around the church and market square, the porcelain factory will be a second center of gravity creating a new and desired field of tension in between both. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The city’s history has always been intertwined with the development of the porcelain industry, in both good and bad times. The drastic revenue decline of the porcelain industry over the last two decades has resulted in a shrinking population and numerous vacancies, particularly in the westerly section of the inner city. On the other hand, the rich industrial heritage which permeates the city’s fabric creates a very attractive base for future development with a sense of identity and cohesion.
