Penzberger Rathauspassage: "wohnzimmer" project on the finish line
Created: 02/13/2022, 12:00 p.m
By: Andreas Baer
Advertisement for a “living room”: A showroom in the Rathauspassage shows what is possible.
©Andreas Baar
Penzberg - The project "wohnzimmer" of the Penzberg city library together with the adult education center (VHS) is on the finish line.
However, local politics must now implement the ideas.
At the end there was applause from Penzberg's city councilors for Katrin Fügener and Katja Wippermann in the town hall.
The directors of the city library and the adult education center had just promoted the “wohnzimmer” project.
As reported, Fügener started the project in 2019, starting in early 2020. Completion is now scheduled for the end of February.
The ambitious goal: Collect suggestions and ideas with the population on how to upgrade the rather dreary town hall passage.
It should be a social meeting place, with offers for young and old, the librarian has in mind.
For the creative and content-related impetus, Fügener obtained a substantial subsidy: 90 percent of the total costs of EUR 89,100 for the start-up phase are covered by the Federal Cultural Foundation as part of the “hochdrei – Change City Libraries” program.
The library manager also got a cooperation partner on board with the neighboring adult education center.
workshops and surveys
There were a number of things to do with the project: workshops, information at the “Sta(d)tt-Lesefest” in October 2010 and an online survey in which 565 citizens took part.
"There was a lot of interest," summed up Johannes Krause, who was from Penzberg and acted as a moderator for public participation.
The main thing that came out of the survey was that something had to change in the less homely passage.
All those involved in the city council are now campaigning again for this.
Hassan Soihili Mzé, who is responsible for the online program at the Kulturstiftung in Halle, praised a "great project".
The foundation is grateful that the Penzbergers "kept staying power" - after all, "wohnzimmer" had to be tackled in Corona times.
Something has to happen
Frank Magener, the interior designer from Rosenheim who was a design consultant, called the shortcoming of the current passage: "These are individual places that have been put together." Which makes it difficult for people to meet.
In order to change that, a space must be created "in which something happens," says Magener.
For the director of the library, Fügener, it is very important that the existing library and adult education center be supplemented – combined with an increased quality of stay: “We should treat the Rathauspassage to more than just creative makeshift solutions when it rains,” she made it clear.
VHS boss Wippermann also saw it this way: She described the "wohnzimmer" project as a "great opportunity".
Ultimately, the adult education center must also develop further - away from the pure imparting of knowledge to a "place for discussions".
Inform
More information on the “wohnzimmer” project and guided tours through the showroom are available by calling 08856/813-750 or on the library’s website.
There was a big compliment from the mayor.
"The result is impressive," said Stefan Korpan (CSU) in recognition of the commitment.
Apart from applause and benevolent nods, however, there were no resolutions from Penzberg's local politicians that evening.
Cultural Foundation representative Hassan Soihili Mzé initially made it clear what is now important: it is up to the city council and the mayor to implement the ideas for the Rathauspassage.
However, the current budget situation in the city is tight.
