Kreativ Quartier Potsdam: More space for urban culture

This is what the Kreativquartier Potsdam will look like when it opens © UNDMICA

In the creative heart of Potsdam

Potsdam, a city rich in history and culture, is embarking on an exciting journey into a new era of inclusive creative work in the heart of the city with the construction of the Kreativ Quartier. At the heart of this exciting development is Christopher Weiß, project developer and builder of this pioneering hotspot for creativity, innovation and collaboration. With infectious enthusiasm, Christopher provides insights into the vision and the construction process - and explains what makes creative districts so important.

Work in progress © Benjamin Maltry

More than just a building complex

It seems that Christopher Weiß's professional career has prepared him perfectly for the venture: He has been an architect by profession for over 25 years, but has been working in project development for a decade. With his company Glockenweiß, he has already successfully realized numerous construction projects with Andrea van der Bel. With an extensive network in Berlin and the surrounding area, the pair carry out economically sustainable projects that also have a social impact. Their concepts for property developments take into account not only the financial return but also the social added value and are developed through integrative planning. "We started out in the traditional way with residential construction, but soon realized that we wanted a broader base - offices, coworking spaces, the whole range of creative workspaces," explains Christopher.

This is another reason why the Kreativ Quartier Potsdam marks a milestone in his career: it will not only be a centrally located building complex with offices, but also a vibrant space for the diverse industries associated with creativity - from fashion and architecture to software development and games. In the heart of Potsdam, it will offer a home to solo freelancers as well as established companies, but will also house studios, workshops, daycare centers and exhibition spaces. "This is thanks in particular to the Potsdam city council, which recognized the uncertainty of temporary locations and consciously wanted to offer creative minds a permanent platform," adds Christopher.

Christopher Weiß (right) with Mike Schubert, the current mayor of Potsdam, who is very committed to the project © Karolina Wolf

The changing requirements for workspaces

However, the path from the bidding process to the concrete idea and finally to realization was not an easy one. The project has been under construction since 2019, with each crisis - be it the pandemic or geopolitical unrest - bringing its own challenges. Nevertheless, Christopher is convinced: "Places like this are essential for the communities of the urban creative industries. Without culture, it becomes quiet."

The Kreativ Quartier Potsdam is not only characterized by its architectural design, but also integrates learnings from other innovative concepts that Glockenweiß has already implemented. A good example is the BEYDES coworking space (which we also present in detail here on the blog ), which focuses on bottom-up developments and aims to avoid gentrification. "We presented an extraordinary concept for Potsdam to do justice to this vision and were therefore commissioned with the project," emphasizes Christopher.

Throughout the pandemic, he repeatedly adapted the concept to the changing circumstances as a laboratory for new working models, as it became clear that flexible, hybrid working was becoming increasingly important. "The requirements for workspaces are constantly changing. We have to be flexible and meet the needs of the target group," explains Christopher.

Members select and book resources, appointments or services via the coapp booking calendar.

Making everyday life easier with digital processes

A key element in the design of the Kreativ Quartier is the integration of digital processes to facilitate and optimize everyday working life. From booking systems to feedback platforms such as coapp, Christopher Weiß and his team are focusing on innovation in order to offer users the best possible working environment. As he has already integrated coapp into other spaces such as BEYDES, he has experience of which features are also useful in Potsdam - for example, to promote events and cultural events or to digitally connect different communities in the space and enable them to exchange ideas on a topic or project basis.

The Kreativ Quartier is already being perceived not only as a workplace, but also as a cultural attraction. "We are already receiving requests for exhibitions and cultural events during the construction phase," reports Christopher enthusiastically. This shows how much the Kreativ Quartier is already part of cultural life in Potsdam - and that a digital tool like coapp, which serves to network interested parties in advance, is proving to be practical.

"We want to practice using coapp for another two years, so to speak, and then implement this experience on a larger scale," he explains. "Billing systems, bookings and event calendars - these are all digital processes that we will need. Handling them manually would be a lot of work. So it's great to have a support team in Hanover that you can always reach."

Christopher Weiß with the chair of the advisory board and cultural manager Doreen Löwe © Karolina Wolf

Leading by example

He and his team are already taking feedback on the development of the community during the construction phase, as they want to put the experience gained to good use afterwards, says Christopher Weiß: "We also want to establish the Kreativ Quartier as a practical example for others who want to implement similar projects and thus promote the creative spirit in other cities," he says. He is noticeably pleased that his commitment also gives others good ideas. He is often asked by property owners how something like this can be planned. "Maybe one day we'll offer a service for new creative districts that utilizes the available resources, as an all-round carefree service package, so to speak."

The Kreativ Quartier in Potsdam therefore not only stands for innovative architecture, but also as a flagship project for a new way of working and creating. In many ways, it is a symbolic concept that can only be created through collaboration at all levels, in which the needs of future users are taken into account in a cooperative manner with investors, architects and authorities.

More about the work of Glockenweiss

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