Hannover visit has lasting impact

Manchester School of Architecture made a big splash in Germany last week, even attracting the attention of regional daily newspaper Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung.

BArch students undertaking the Re_Map unit, which explores the use of urban space, spent an intensive three days examining the former Expo 2000 site in Hannover.

The group worked alongside German students from the Braunschweig University of Technology to propose solutions to the problems caused by the site’s decay.

Ideas to stimulate growth

Many of the buildings created for the Expo - originally built over 1.5 million square meters - have since been relocated or demolished. The cable car that once served the entire complex is now located in the Alps.

Local interest was sparked after facility managers at the failing site expressed a keen interest in the output of the workshop and any ideas that may stimulate growth or activity around it.

MSA student Romulus Sim said: “It’s great to come away and spend some really productive time with students from another country and see world class architecture, even if it’s in a sorry state. We were able to look at the problem with fresh eyes and hopefully our ideas will help the people of Hannover come to some decisions about the future of this site.”

Continuing the Anglo-German relationship

Richard Brook, Senior Lecturer at MSA, comments: “There remains some fantastic, even seminal, built material from the Expo in Hannover. The main architectural draw is the dilapidated Dutch Pavilion, designed as a ‘vertical park’, but now sitting forlornly amongst a landscape of bland and banal commercial buildings.”

MSA student suggestions include the relocation of certain pavilions to central Hannover, the promotion of a multi-faith mecca and a race track sponsored by Continental Tyres.

Expo site management wish to continue the Anglo-German relationship and will use the MSA proposals in forthcoming events to celebrate ten years since Expo 2000.

In addition, a Manchester pavilion will be constructed at a secret location in the city this spring and connect with Hannover via a live webcam.