"A public place in private hands"

THE LEIPZIG MAIN STATION - AN INVESTIGATION ON SPATIAL & SOCIAL ISSUES OF AN INNER-CITY PUBLIC SPACE
in coordination and cooperation with Deutsche Bahn & ECE Projektmanagement GmbH & CoKG, 2003-2004
Master's thesis at the BAUHAUS University "European Urbanistics"
with Prof. Dr. Frank Eckardt

RESEARCH OBJECT:
Leipzig Central Station - largest terminus station in Europe as a "public space" with about 70,000 visitors daily and about 25 million travellers per year - one of the few stations that are no longer owned by Deutsche Bahn but sold to ECE Group GmbH & Co KG / Otto family.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
? What influence does a private owner have on the design, use & accessibility of a public space like a railway station ?
? Can generally valid design and use criteria for the quality of stay & usability be derived ?

METHODOLOGY:
Expert interviews with a limited target group using primarily open questions. Search for interview partners via organisations, associations, etc.

RESULT
Identification of the problems and influence of privately managed "public space". Perceptions and tendencies for improving the quality of stay in the public space of Leipzig railway station. Basis for a further and representative study.

Grafic & Photos: Lia Röck