Germany
German Port Town Transforms into Thriving, Ambitious Community
HafenCity, a neighborhood in the Hamburg docklands, is sprouting into a model redevelopment project by caring for the human element and adapting the port's cultural history into the physical landscape.
Unfinished Nuclear Plant Converted into Amusement Park
A never-completed nuclear reactor in Germany is being converted into an amusement park. The project has been years in the works, and is still only partially converted.
Population Plummets in Rural Germany
Rural areas in Germany are seeing major declines in population. Some worry that these declining villages and towns are being left by the wayside as the nation heads towards urban centers.
Hamburg Considers Sky Tram
Officials in Hamburg, Germany are considering a plan to build an aerial tram connecting two of the city's popular neighborhoods.
Locals Upset As Neighborhood Attracts Tourists
As a Berlin neighborhood gains favor among foreign tourists, locals are fighting to preserve their community's charm and identity.
Air Hangar Reborn as Waterpark
An air hangar in Germany has been converted into a massive waterpark, which some see as the possible beginning of a trend in adaptive reuse of these types of facilities.
Fixing Emptying Cities, auf Deutsch
Since reunification in 1989, many East German cities have been devastated by failing economies and population loss. The Germans, therefore, have a leg up on management strategies for failing cities. Doreen Ritzau takes a tour.
A Look at Contemporary Berlin
This photo slideshow from Places offers a look at the city of Berlin and the fast pace of change underway there.
An Example of Post-Industrial Rebirth
Germany's Ruhr region, a former coal and steel powerhouse that fell into decline, has shown major improvements in recent years, offering hope for other post-industrial cities.
Finalists Chosen in Redesign Bid for Decommissioned Airport
Six finalists have been chosen in a bid to redesign Berlin's decommissioned Tempelhof Airport. The airport is currently open as a park, but the city wants a more formal redesign.
Seeking That Neighborly Feeling
The new HafenCity district under construction in Hamburg, Germany, is one of the largest urban developments underway today. Some worry that its newness and bigness aren't prime conditions for harboring neighborliness.
Huge New District Expands Hamburg's City Center
An ambitious new mixed use district is gradually opening along the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany. The project is huge in scope, expanding the city center by nearly 40%, and not expected to finish for more than a decade.
Berlin's Former Airport Opens As Park
Decommissioned Tempelhof Airport in Berlin had been the subject of grand plans for reusing the massive space for the last two years. But with little money in city coffers, officials decided to simply open it to the public as-is.
Fun, Fun, Fun on the Autobahn
Millions of Germans this weekend closed off a 40-mile stretch of autobahn for a banquet and party.
Shrinking and Aging Population Poses Problems for Germany
Emigration is up and the birth rate is dropping in Germany, where people are starting to worry about what a shrinking and aging population will mean for the country's future.
Small Towns Seek to Buy Back Energy Infrastructure
Small German towns that had sold off their energy utilities to large corporations in the 1990s are trying to buy them back. They want to be back in on the lucrative energy market, but have large and formidable opponents.
How To Design Your Own Speed Bump - In German
A German homeowner is frustrated with the traffic in his neighborhood, so he designs and installs his own speed bump for his street. While there are no English subtitles, the pictures and sounds illustrate the directions and results all too well.
Birth Rates Falling and Cities Failing
Birth rates are dropping across Europe, and some cities are on the verge of collapse because of it. Exhibit A: Hoyerswerda, Germany.
Hamburg's Manifesto Against the 'Creative Class'
A new manifesto is being circulated in Hamburg, Germany, where city officials have used the concept of the "creative class" to rebrand the city and lure in creative people. The resulting gentrification of the city has many locals upset.
Man-Made Mountain Proposed in Berlin
An architect in Berlin has proposed replacing the city's now-unused Tempelhof airport with a giant man-made mountain, dubbed The Berg.
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