Building the way

by Mr Rainer Pasternak

City development has always been strongly influenced by commercial forces. The increasing importance of tourism in the last years for the economy of cities in the Baltic Sea Region has lead to the increasing importance of cultural facilities in city development.

Thousands of visitors come to Kiel daily through the newly built Norwegian and Cruise and Ferry Terminals. The length of their visit lasts on average eight hours. Instead of the visitors leaving to visit nearby towns and tourist arpas Kipl wants tn nffpr visitors an attractive cultural program that will encourage them to stay in the city to visit the museums and galleries. Visiting these places and then going shopping and eating in restaurants will then lead to economic development of the city.

The city has created a new project proposal that entails these mentioned ideas. New cultural opportunities will be built right in the vicinity of the new terminal facilities. A new marine science centre is being planned to be built near the Norway Terminal as a magnet for passengers from Oslo and Gothenburg. The shipping museum nearby has the same purpose for the cruise ship passengers. To connect these two facilities on opposite sides of the harbour, a new ferry connection will be implemented. This ferry will close the ring-formed path between all of the different cultural offerings that are found near the terminals.

Further, a foot path to link Kiel's Old City to the museum ring will be created. The path will lead from the Shipping Museum to the Warleberger House (17th century noble house). From there the visitors will have the possibility to go to the pedestrian shopping area or farther.

The financing of this concept will come from the city and EU grants, but mostly it will come from businesses that are on the harbour side.

The combination of cultural projects and facilities with commercial developments will ensure the future of cultural facilities of Kiel and help business.