The city plans to redesign its World Heritage information system – construction costs had risen to around 21 million euros
The city of Darmstadt, a center of science and research, has temporarily halted the planned construction of a new information center on the Mathildenhöhe. Mayor Hanno Benz and Head of Urban Planning Paul Georg Wandrey announced a temporary moratorium on Monday, August 17. Instead of continuing with the existing plans, a new concept for communicating the UNESCO World Heritage Site will first be developed.
The initial plans for a visitor and information center date back to 2016. In 2019, the city decided to construct a new building with approximately 1,500 square meters of usable space on the eastern slope. The estimated cost at that time was around 6.2 million euros.
Following the inclusion of the Mathildenhöhe on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, regulations concerning building areas, height, and design, among other things, necessitated a redesign. Despite a reduction in size, the estimated construction costs rose to approximately 21 million euros.
The new information center building is being reassessed
According to the city, a comprehensive educational concept is still lacking, from which requirements for spaces, content, and target groups can be derived. Furthermore, significant renovations are needed on the Mathildenhöhe. Approximately €15.6 million is estimated for the Oberhessische Haus, the Ernst-Ludwig-Haus, the Wedding Tower, the Bacchus Fountain, and other structures.
“We are setting the right order before committing further funds,” Benz explains. First, it needs to be clarified what form of World Heritage outreach is actually required.
In the future, centralized, decentralized, digital, or temporary solutions will be examined. Existing structures, as well as the neighboring World Heritage sites of Messel Pit and Lorsch Abbey, will also be included in a regional concept. Only then will a decision be made regarding a possible new building.
The eastern slope is also slated for further development. According to the city, a more moderate development, better integrated into the surrounding area, is planned there.
(Darmstadt – RED/PM/Frank Horneff, Dr. Marcus Stippak)
Featured image: Infopoint Mathildenhöhe, ©Darmstadt-Marketing Anna-Schuetz
