Basic info
Country:
Germany (Ore Mountain foothills)
Area:
6.88 km²
Population:
2200 inhabitants
Density:
320 inhabitants/km²
Summary:
Mosel, a district of Zwickau, has undergone an unusual development. In the 1980s, the automobile industry settled in what was originally an agricultural area. Today, VW produces in the northern part of the town. A local family purchased and exemplarily renovated the dilapidated baroque manor house Niedermosel. With the demolition of the old stables and renaturation of the area as a compensatory measure for the expansion of the automotive site, the area has become an attraction for residents and visitors.
References:
Keywords
Biodiversity enhancement | Climate-positive design | Conceptual tree planting and care | Cultural heritage preservation | Enhancing architectural values | Green and open space design | Nature restoration | Participation and inclusion | Repurposing sites and structures | Stormwater management | Strengthening local identity | Sustainable tourism support
Gallery
"Environmental development, industrial location and historic village structures."
Issues Addressed
As a village, this district has undergone a complex, atypical development. After the collectivization of agriculture, the Niedermosel manor estate was repurposed for agricultural use, which led to neglect of the historic building fabric. Starting in the 1980s, the automotive industry was extensively established here due to the favourable location near the railway and the flat terrain. Today, Volkswagen AG produces in the northern part of the area.
Approaches and Solutions
The baroque manor house Niedermosel had fallen into disrepair due to agricultural use during the GDR period. A local family bought and renovated the buildings grouped around a courtyard in an exemplary manner and with great personal commitment. Today, it houses a guesthouse with café, stable facilities, and small craftsmen’s workshops. The ruined stalls of the pig fattening facility were demolished. With hedge rows and a traditional orchard meadow, which the manor house operator uses extensively for grazing, a typical village edge is being recreated. A bird tower replaces the habitat of building-nesting birds. The renaturation was carried out by the Central Land Management of Saxony and was financed as one of several compensation and replacement measures (2 measures in Mosel) in the course of legally possible expansion of the grounds of the automotive industry. The area has developed into an attraction for residents and users of the inter-regional Mulde cycling path. To the east of the area, a landscape conservation area with wet meadows in the valley of the Zwickauer Mulde adjoins.
Actors and Stakeholders
The private initiative to restore the manor house was a courageous step, even though it was supported by funding. The city of Zwickau and the district, together with the Central Land Management and Volkswagen Real Estate GmbH, searched for and developed areas that would benefit the local development both ecologically and aesthetically.
Challenges and Opportunities
The preservation and renovation of the manor estate was a balancing act between historic preservation, usage requirements, and financing. A crucial factor was, among other things, the strategic direction of compensation and mitigation measures from large projects towards activities that create added value locally and would not have been financially feasible otherwise.
Outcomes and Lessons Learnt
The grounds around the Niedermosel Manor have developed into a tourist attraction. Nestled in the now intact green edge of the village with meadows, gardens, and ponds, the “little castle” is picturesquely situated at the edge of the river valley. Events such as markets take place here during Ascension Day, Pentecost, and Advent, bringing together residents and guests. This place makes one forget that a large car factory is producing just a few hundred meters away. Even with large settlements, when all interests are heard and interlock, biodiversity, village design and identity, as well as community spirit can be promoted.
Selected major projects and awards
- Renovation of the Niedermosel Manor House (from 2014)
- Demolition of the abandoned agricultural pig farm at the Mosel Manor and restoration to natural state as a compensation measure for the expansion of automotive industry areas (from 2022)
- Planning of another compensation measure, also at the edge of the village and as an extensive area with field hedges
- Award from the Zwickau Architecture Forum for the historically appropriate renovation of the Mosel Manor House (2016)