NAP kisses awake the sleeping beauty

welcome to the porcelain-city selb

dornröschen – reinitializing selb or ‘kissing awake the sleeping beauty’

through a range of strategies and interventions the porcelain-city of selb in the fichtelgebirge region in germany will be elevated as the "city of white gold" to a regional center for art, trade, tourism, and culture.

the history of the city selb has always been intertwined with the development of the porcelain industry, in both good and bad times. the drastic revenue decline of the porcelain industry over the last two decades has resulted in a shrinking population and numerous vacancies, particularly in the westerly section of the inner city. on the other hand, the rich industrial heritage which permeates the city’s fabric creates a very attractive base for future development with a sense of identity and cohesion.

based on superordinate structural measures a sustainable urban revitalization process is initiated. the resulting integral urban network provides space for individual initiatives while reuniting disparate segments of the city.

the former porcelain factory, transformed into a center for art, leisure and trade will act as the nucleus for future development. in juxtaposition to the intact city center around the church and market square, the porcelain factory will be a second center of gravity creating a new and desired field of tension in between both.

the route connecting these two centers will become the main artery of Selb. sustainable refurbishment, creative conversion, and carefully selected new construction will form a string of pearls along the so-called “porcelain route” to stimulate development in their vicinity.

within the individual architectural interventions emphasis will be placed on the respectful treatment of the existing built environment which embodies the city’s history. while vacant buildings are activated by careful upgrading and imaginative interventions, a small number of distinctive new constructions will be chosen to mark strategic points within the urban network.

embracing the industrial tradition of selb will form the basis for a long-term revitalization of the city. simultaneously the city will be able to sharpen its profile as “the place to be” in the region by offering attractive new life/work concepts and room for individual development within established structures. through this process Porcelain will continue to play a key role!

activating the city by urban acupuncture