Hamburg's Eco-city and the Creative Industrial Complex

November 17, 10:19 PMGreen Community ExaminerEvan Schoepke

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Hamburg Eco-city and Creative Industrial Complex

Hamburg Germany is a wealthy European port city known for paramount sustainable development.  Widely known as the "German Venice" Hamburg is advancing urban planning and design, ecologically friendly building, and sustainability education to become one of the world's most innovative developing ecocities. Recently, Hamburg has unveiled a design for a urban ecocity complex that would provide myriad ecological and social benefits. The three fundamental cornerstones of sustainability are equity, ecology, and economy and Hamburg's new ecocity complex hits all three. By embracing sustainable education in conjunction with strategic ecological and economic investment Hamburg has brought new force to the idea of the "creative industrial complex" and the vast potential it holds. Hamburg happens to be home to the Hamburg University and to the unique Hafencity University of Architecture and City Development which offers a wide variety of interdisciplinary courses related to eco-city innovation. It is for these reasons that Hamburg was nominated twice as the official city of the UN Decade of Education For Sustainable Development and the EU European Green Capital City for 2011.

The creative industrial complex can be defined as the fusion of educational, expressive, and industrial capacities with in an integrated and compact environment in order to promote creativity, ecological stewardship, and cooperative business activity and growth. The development of the creative industrial complex happens by three means. First of all, there must be appropriate infrastructure investment both in sustainable infrastructure (green roofs, water catchment, compost and recycling, passive and active solar design ect) as well as education (demonstration spaces, classrooms, laboratories, studios). This infrastructure provides the incubation environment for innovative businesses which will then sustain the viability of complex as a whole. Having these diverse groups working together who are dedicated to principals of sustainability in a compact location creates a unique cultural nexus. This happens by means of a natural cultural feedback loop when a saturation of cultural values that promote healthy environmental and social practices, diversity, and expression ends up reinforcing those values with into the larger material culture. The other primary distinguishing feature of the creative industrial complex is the interaction with the public sphere. Through out the Hamburg Eco-City Complex there will be numerous educational displays and galleries educating visitors as to the numerous environmental technologies employed on site, as well as, the occupants activities and individual contribution to sustainable practices. This engagement with the broader public brings education and innovation into the public realm and inspiration into the private realm, where firms can then customize designs based on public feedback and input.

It is this unique cultural intersection that impacets lasting changes in behavior, ways of thinking, and material structure. This culture of sustainability reinforces and furthers the growth of the technological innovation that the complex employs. The hamburg ecocity will feature the latest in green technology and landscaping. The overall lay out incorporates easily walkable and eye catching environments that are close to public transportation. Green roofs help to cool the building and also clean storm water runoff. Energy generation in the form of wind and solar along with strict efficiency standards will bring added long term benefits and cost savings. Vertical landscaping in the form of green walls adds to the aesthetic value of the building, creates more green landscape, and cools the buildings further enhancing other energy saving techniques. Linking residential and commericial spaces with vertical bridges brings the added flow of people, ideas, and resources through out the complex. The well known philosopher Michel Focoault once describe the world as complex web of heterotopias or distinguishably unique spaces that are ever changing and evolving. The Hamburg ecocity complex is a perfect example of the sustainable heterotopias needed to maintain ecological stability into the future.