Urban research facility fosters avenue for imaginative application ideas
In the heart of Neuwied, Germany, a unique project is breathing new life into the city center – the City Center Lab, a multifunctional space designed to combat empty storefronts and foster innovation. City Manager Michaela Ullrich finds this project exciting and believes it showcases the need for creative solutions in urban development.
The City Center Lab, located at Langendorfer Straße 120, has been open for over a year now. It has proven to be the greatest gain in dealing with empty storefronts, serving as an urban innovation hub and experimental space. Michaela Ullrich is reaching out to founders and landlords, encouraging them to be open to unconventional uses of retail spaces, such as concept stores and art exhibitions.
The upper floor of the City Center Lab displays meticulously crafted models of famous buildings from Feldkirchen by Walter Teufert, while both floors feature "Acrylic Pouring" artworks by Silvia Blank. The space has been used for weekly consultation hours on the Schlossstraße construction site and as a safety point during the Deichstadt festival.
One of the most notable features of the City Center Lab is the Pop-Up Store called "Hipstoricals," run by Melanie Rinklage, who sells vintage furniture and decor items. The Pop-Up Store will reopen in February after an exhibition titled "The Quiet Hour." Melanie is considering a permanent store in the Neuwied city center after the success of her Pop-Up Store.
City Manager Michaela Ullrich has also moved her workplace to the City Center Lab, a test room for founders with creative business ideas. To date, the City Center Lab has housed seven pop-up stores, six art exhibitions, and numerous workshops and events.
For more information about the City Center Lab and current events, visit www.neuwied.de/innenstadtlabor. Inquiries about using the City Center Lab for workshops and events, or about store concepts, can be directed to City Manager Michaela Ullrich at [email protected].
The reduction of empty storefronts leads to a more appealing cityscape and increases the attractiveness for city center visitors, retailers, and gastronomers alike. By promoting new and innovative retail concepts, City Manager Michaela Ullrich is working to animate the Neuwied city center, making it a vibrant and exciting place for all.
- The Pop-Up Store, named "Hipstoricals," on the upper floor of the City Center Lab, offers vintage furniture and decor items, hinting at a potential permanent store in the Neuwied city center.
- In addition to pop-up stores and art exhibitions, the City Center Lab also hosts workshops, events, and consultation hours, showcasing a blend of home-and-garden, lifestyle, general-news, and shopping experiences.
