Exhibit: Hamburg: Building the City Anew. A Journey into the City of Tomorrow.

UDC and Goethe-Institut Washington Partner to Host Hamburg Conference and Exhibit

“Hamburg: Building the City Anew. A Journey into the City of Tomorrow” will explore the German city’s sustainable initiatives

Germany’s second largest city and the ninth largest in Europe, Hamburg, is home to two of the most important urban development areas in Europe: HafenCity and the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Hamburg. Both projects embrace the vision of a European city meeting the challenges of the future without abandoning its unique traditions and character. HafenCity, Europe’s largest inner-city development project, is setting new standards for ecological sustainability and mixed use development along the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany. The International Building Exhibition (IBA) is applying experimental design and urban planning to a neglected inner-city island, transforming it into a vibrant and sustainable area. 

Like Washington, D.C., Hamburg is a city-state that consists solely of the city itself without a surrounding rural area. This poses unique developmental challenges and unique opportunities. Hamburg is commercial, compact and comfortable at the same time. And it has to be. Without a surrounding land area Hamburg must meet all the needs of its citizens, attract businesses and visitors, and reinvent itself ever anew to meet the ambitions of a modern city that keeps pace with the times.

How has Hamburg organized itself to meet the demands of a modern city that is ecologically sound and economically vibrant?  The University of the District of Columbia’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) and the Goethe-Institut Washington will present a half-day conference exploring these important topics and accompanying exhibition Hamburg. Building the City Anew. A Journey into the City of Tomorrow.

Keep reading for details on the Nov. 14 reception and Nov. 15 panel discussion! 

The city-state of Hamburg has many similarities to D.C.

 Exhibition Opening Reception: Thursday, November 14, 5:00 p.m.

The exhibition features examples of IBA Hamburg and HafenCity projects. Launching the exhibit will be Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, Deputy Mayor of Hamburg, and Karlfried Bergner, Minister, German Embassy. Space is limited, so please RSVP to causes@udc.edu to attend the opening. The exhibition will run from November 14 until December 6, 2013.

Panel Discussion: Friday, November 15, 9:00 a.m. – 12.30: p.m.

Panelists from the city-states of Hamburg, Germany, and Washington, D.C. include:

• Michael P. Kelly, Director, District Department of Housing and Community Development
• Victor Hoskins, Deputy Mayor, Planning and Economic Development 
• Jim Abdo, President and CEO, Abdo Development 
• Larry Handerhan, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Karen Settles, D.C. Housing Representative
• Jürgen Bruns-Berentelg, CEO, HafenCity Hamburg, 
• Uli Hellweg, Managing Director, IBA Hamburg

The full agenda is below.

The conference and exhibition will take place at the University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW, Building 42, A Level. Please RSVP to causes@udc.edu to attend the free conference.