topos 125 101 Photo: Share.eu 3 In 2022, the milestone of 100 million contributions in the form of donations or services was reached.
102 topos 125 Contributors Laura Puttkamer is a journalist and consultant on participatory methods for urban planning projects. She has a master’s degree in Global Urban Development and Planning from The University of Manchester. She lives in Mexico City and blogs for parcitypatory.org. [email protected] Arian Schlichenmayer studied Biotechnology in Munich and has been writing for G+L and topos since 2021. He has joined the editorial team in 2022 and is responsible for the topos print issue. [email protected] Julia Treichel studied landscape architecture at the Technical University of Munich. She has worked for SSR, raumzeug and Valentien+Valentien, among others. She deals, also on a freelance basis, in theory and practice with social and design issues of the environment. [email protected] Tobias Hager is a journalist and Chief Content Officer and member of the management board at GEORG Media. Responsible for all GEORG brands such as topos magazine, BAUMEISTER and G+L, his focus is on the areas of content, digital, marketing and entrepreneurship. [email protected] Theresa Ramisch studied Urban Planning at the TU Munich. She began working as an editor for G+L and topos in 2016. Since 2021, she has been Editor in Chief for G+L – the leading German magazine for Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. Since 2023, she has been as well Editor in Chief for topos. [email protected] Anna Martin studied Art History with a focus on architecture at the LMU in Munich. She started as an editorial trainee in 2022 and now works as an editor at Georg Media. She has wide-ranging interests in the field of architecture and urban planning and likes the opportunity to delve into new topics. [email protected] Ramona Kraxner finished her studies in architecture with the Graz Diploma Award 2020. She soon started to actively engage in critical discourse and eventually in architecture communication. She works as an editor for Georg Media. [email protected] A-Yong Chu co-founded Do You a Flavor and Learning from the Poor Coalition in Taipei. A cat-loving person, she is also a curator, designer, and writer. She has served as the curatorial lead for the Poor in Taipei exhibition since 2017. [email protected] Andreas Ebert studied landscape architecture in Munich and in Berlin. He worked at different landscape architecture firms in Rotterdam, Freising and Berlin. Currently, he is a research associate and doctoral candidate at the Leibniz University Hannover. [email protected] Jonathan Massey is an architect and historian whose research shows how architecture shapes our lives, cities, and societies. As dean at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning, he leads students, faculty, and staff in discovery and education aimed at building better futures. [email protected] Larissa Larsen is professor of Urban and Regional Planning in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. Before teaching, Larissa worked as a planner and landscape architect in Chicago, IL. [email protected] Jeffrey Hou is Professor of Landscape Architecture and the director of the Urban Common Lab at the University of Washington, Seattle. His work focuses on civic urbanism, design activism, and bottom-up placemaking. [email protected] Shanti Hetz After completing her Master's degree in clinical psychology with a focus on development and education in Vienna, Shanti Hetz supports children and young adults in need as part of the Austrian kids-line. [email protected] Marlene Engelhorn Marlene Engelhorn is an heiress and member of taxmenow, an initiative of wealthy people in German-speaking countries. She and her fellow campaigners focus on discussing issues such as tax justice, wealth inequality and class privilege from the perspective of the wealthy. taxmenow.eu Anna Arndt is a student of communication science as well as art, music and theatre at LMU University Munich. She joined Georg Media in 2022 as a student trainee. [email protected]
CURATED PRODUCTS Product solutions for public spaces Page 104 REFERENCE Nature and History – Inside and Out Page 108
104 topos 125 Have a look! Products Photo: Vestre GmbH Vestre Vision Zero The Norwegian company Vestre wants to be recognized as the most sustainable furniture manufacturerin the world. To achieve this goal, among otherthings, the value chain must be decarbonized. The implementation rests on two key principles: On one hand, it involves technological innovations such as new materials and environmentally friendly modes of transportation. On the other hand, the company is focusing on making maximum use of all materials and keeping them in use for as long as possible. In line with the motto "Vestre Vision Zero", the company only wants to solely produce furniture that has an infinite lifespan. A recently published environmental impact report for the year 2022 reports on the latest progress and obstacles in Vestre's sustainability work. The road to the goal may still be long, but at least it is signposted: The report bears witness to the company's effortsto create a more sustainable business environment. Vestre'sImpact Report is neither dry nor boring: The Oslo-based design studio Bielke&Yang has presented the information in a compact and easy-to-read format. For anyone wanting to delve deeper into the topic of environmental sustainability, find the "nerdy" section at the end of the report. vestre.com
poverty topos 125 105 Photo: Huck Seiltechnik, Berliner Seilfabrik GmbH & Co. Fun in modules With WaggaWagga, Berliner Seilfabrik created a new product group offering modular and multifunctional play equipment with a distinctive design and large play volume on a narrow footprint. It unites many play functions, and elements inside can be designed individually. In the newly developed Joe’s Grid, a steel grid is glued into an aluminium profile frame. WaggaWagga’s façade is also decorated with perforated panels. Here, different sized holes create a three-dimensional effect. Another novelty are the Blades – high-quality wave-shaped panels made of HPL – which make the play equipment look like art, provide shade inside and absorb noise. The façade elements can be complemented with play panels close to the ground. This gives children with physical impairment the opportunity to take part in the play. berliner-seilfabrik.com A new way of swinging Fun olé – for everyone! The new "Sombrero" swing has a clear mission: to give people with disabilities a completely new and inclusive swinging experience in the safest possible way. Huck's "Sombrero" achieves this by a raised section in the middle, which means that play equipment users can not only lie down, squat or stand, but can now also sit down safely and lean back with a firm support. This offers many advantages for people with disabilities: they can swing, sit, lean on the swing alone or as a group and simply have a great time. People with major disabilities need more space – and not everyone has the ability to sit upright independently. "Sombrero" now offers all of this: space and secure support. "We wanted to place a clear focus on safe swings for people with disabilities," says Wolfgang Keiner, one of the managing directors at Huck Seiltechnik. huck-seiltechnik.de
poverty 106 topos 125 Work, relaxation and communication The building at Herzbergstraße 82-86 in the Berlin district of Lichtenberg looks back on an eventful history. Originally built for „AGA Automobilwerke“, it is now home to various craft businesses and companiesin the service sector. When redesigning the building, Berlin-based project developer Trockland focused on creating a high quality environment for tenants. This could be achieved thanks to Berlin-based landscape architect Kretschmer Tauscher Sander's planning: Various seating options from Freiraumgestaltung Fischer (representing euroform-w) were placed in conjunction with raised flowerbed arrangements. In combination with various table elements, an inviting place for both working and relaxing was created. freiraumgestaltung-fischer.de The Ellipsilon and the Small Hourglass 2 wrapped steel rings of 2.3 x 1.4 meters are connected with a network of 16 millimeter Hercules rope with steel inlay in blue, red, yellow or green. They rotate around an approximately 12 centimeter thick hot-dip galvanized steel pole of 3.8 meter length – to be set in concrete. The drop height is 2 meters and thus requires sand or similar as a base. A heavenly pleasure on the new Ellipsilon and the Small Hourglass. The basic idea of a play part rotating around a fixed point, in this case a steel pole, creates new aspects. In the case of the Ellipsilon, the two oval wrapped rings are not suspended in alignment, but against each other, which is a special requirement. The small hourglass is tapered in the middle with a cross rope. hally-gally-spielplatzgeraete.de Photos: Hally Gally/SPOGG Sport-Güter GmbH, Bernd Fischer GmbH & Co KG
topos 125 107 A new look for Düren’s Kaiserplatz Furniture for outdoor areas is expected to meet numerous requirements: Long durability, low maintenance, visual consistency, comfort and practical use. The furniture from Westeifel Werke in Gerolstein is designed to offer all of this, which the citizens of Düren in Germany can now see for themselves. Since 2014, a so-called master plan has been implemented in Düren, with the aim of attracting people to the city's streets and squares. As a result, various areas and parks in the city have been given a new look, including Kaiserplatz. Since then, three double/row benches from the Tecto series have been installed there as a special design in the "Kaiserplatz Düren" version with a length of 5.6 meters, as well as six benches from the Tecto series as a special design in the "Kaiserplatz Düren" version with a length of 2.75 meters. The design of the bench bases was adapted to the local conditions. All steel parts are galvanized and coated in WEW graphite. FSC hardwood from Sapeli was used for the wood. As a recognized workshop for people with disabilities (WfbM), people with and without disabilities work side by side at Westeifel Werke. The working conditions are specially designed for disabled employees. westeifel-werke.de Photo: Westeifel Werke
1 108 topos 125 When the astronomer and physicist Bernard Lovell came to the University of Manchester in 1945, he was looking for a place free of electrical interference to observe cosmic radiation. He found it in a former botanical research station at the university in Jodrell Bank. Here, Lovell designed the radio telescope that is now named after him. When it was completed in 1957, it was the largest radio telescope in the world, with its freely movable parabolic antenna measuring 76.2 meters in diameter and a total mass of 3,200 tons, which could also receive very weak signals from very long distances away. As a prestigious object of British science, the Jodrell Bank Observatory was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. Years later, the initiative to preserve the heritage at Jodrell Bank and showcase the history of radio astronomy was launched: the First Light Pavilion. Inside, an immersive auditorium and interactive exhibition teach visitors about science and astronomy. In addition, the pavilion is considered a successful project for biodiversity and species diversity. Instead of attracting visitors with an impressive façade, the domed building literally submerges itself in nature: Hassell Studio Architects designed the £20.5 million visitor center as a grassy hill that blends into the landscape of the 35-hectare arboretum. Along with the visitor center, the hill also conceals its reinforced concrete dome – which is the exact shape and size of the Lovell telescope. When a building is buried under a landscape, it needs to be extremely secure in all condiNature and History – Inside and Out Photos: Paul Bauder GmbH & Co. KG Reference
1 The shape of the First Light Pavilion's hill, situated at the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank, is a reference to the Lovell telescope next to it. 2 Hassell Studio Architects designed the First Light Pavilion as a grassy hill that blends into the landscape. 2 topos 125 109 tions. The dome, with its diameter of 76.2 m, is eight meters high in the middle and has to not only support its own weight but also tons of soil. For this reason, the client commissioned a Bauder safety roof with a 20-year system guarantee for the reinforced concrete structure. The leading roofing company LRL Roofing Solutions was chosen as the contractual partner. Safety in the First Light Pavilion begins with the concrete structure. “Our safety roof concept is secured by a fixed process,” explains a Bauder application engineer. “Every step from the production of defined, high-quality roof systems to their installation by specialist installers is monitored according to strict rules and site supervision. This enables us to guarantee maximum safety – safety for planners, building owners and installers.” In this context, safety goes hand in hand with sustainability: the dome should last a long time, and what lasts a long time does not require resources for premature replacement. In general, it is no longer enough to plan a building that is solely purpose-oriented – aspects such as sustainability, energy and resource efficiency, environmental protection and decarbonization were also important reference points for the First Light Pavilion, both during planning and construction. All in all, the structure combines innovative concepts and materials to leave a minimal ecological footprint. The roof specialists determined the following structure for the Bauder safety roof on the First Light Pavilion: the concrete was fol-
3 The First Light Pavilion's reinforced concrete dome is buried under landscape; the greening was enriched with native wildflower seeds. 3 poverty 110 topos 125 Photo: Paul Bauder GmbH & Co. KG lowed by the Bauder Burkolit Plus primer, a robust vapor barrier, PIR thermal insulation elements made of rigid polyiso foam and a two-layer bitumen waterproofing system with a root-resistant top layer. On top, a green roof structure was created, with a separating, a sliding and a protective layer. Above it, there are high-performance water storage panels with a drainage function. In addition to the individual layers, the interaction of the components also plays a crucial role. The greening on the building was enriched with native wildflower seeds to promote biodiversity. The areas are only mowed once a year to support natural vegetation change. Meanwhile, the roof system supports the natural water cycle through its storage function. With their idea, Hassell Studio Architects interfered with nature as little and as environmentally friendly as possible, reflecting the heritage of Jodrell Bank in a unique way. While the project and its fabricators made history with several awards, another kind of history is brought to life inside: that of famous astronomers and engineers who with their groundbreaking inventions changed our view of the universe. bauder.de
CITY GAME CHANGERS Bhumijo, Homeless World Cup, Bureaux du Cœur Page 112 EDGE CITY Tax them now! Page 114
City Game Changers ANNA MARTIN CITY GAME CHANGERS 112 topos 125 Homeless World Cup Football can change someone’s life. That’s one of the ideas behind the Homeless World Cup. While FIFA’s world cup only takes place every four years, this international street football tournament is held annually. Its goal: ending homelessness. In 2003, the first Homeless World Cup took place in Graz and has since been held in 16 further cities all over the world, this year in Sacramento. The tournament’s member countries can each send a men’s and a women’s team. There are criteria for participating players, for example that they’ve been homeless in the last year. On the one hand, the tournament wants to raise awareness for homelessness and tackle this global problem. On the other, they want to support and empower individuals, for example by becoming part of a community in a football team. According to the Homeless World Cup’s website, 94 percent say that “the Homeless World Cup positively impacted their lives”. It has not yet been announced where the next Homeless World Cup will take place. Cities interested in hosting can apply through the website. homelessworldcup.org Bhumijo Goal six of the UN’s SDGs is to make drinking water, sanitation and hygiene accessible to all. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, with more than 20 million residents in its metropolitan area, public toilets are extremely scarce. A social enterprise working to improve this situation is Bhumijo, founded by Farhana Rashid and Masudul Islam Shammo. Bhumijo’s team designs and operates facilities that offer toilets and – depending on location – drinking water, laundry services or showers to all. Its services are aimed at people with low income and especially at women. According to Bhumijo, a common problem is that women drink less water to avoid needing a toilet, which in turn can lead to health problems. Bhumijo’s model for their facilities is intended to ensure that the facilities operate self-sustainably. Users can pay for the services per single use or get a subscription at a reduced price. Also, Bhumijo is digitizing its facilities: Through an app, users can find toilets, pay digitally, and leave reviews. Currently, Bhumijo is operating 43 facilities in Dhaka and other cities across Bangladesh. bhumijo.com Photos: Noufel Sharif Sojol; Homeless World Cup; Monsieur Roni
TOPOS 126: PUBLIC TRANSPORT Bureaux du Cœur The French association Bureaux du Cœur aims to utilize office spaces that go unused at night and on weekends by providing accommodation for people in precarioussituations. In 2018/19, Pierre-Yves Loaëc – head of a communications agency in Nantes – together with around 15 other business leaders, developed the concept. The idea is to welcome people as guests. Bureaux du Cœur supports companies in becoming a host, for example by helping them prepare rooms: a private space separated from workspaces, with a sleeping and a kitchen area as well assanitary facilities. The initiative works with partner organizations who introduce possible guests. There are certain criteria forthem,such as being an adult, no addiction problems and being in the process of reintegration. The initiative is also about social contacts – employees arriving in the morning might share a coffee with the guest before they leave. Since 2020, more than 260 guests have been hosted; there are 130 host companies and 110 partner associations across France. In 2024, the association plans to get started in Spain and Portugal. bureauxducoeur.org to po s. a brand of IMPRINT EDITOR ADDRESS: address same as publishing house Tel +49 89/43 60 05-0 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.toposmagazine.com CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER: Tobias Hager, Tel. ext. -166 E-Mail: [email protected] The overall editorial responsibility in accordance with § 55 of the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty (RStV): Tobias Hager EDITORS: Theresa Ramisch, Tel. ext. -127 E-Mail: [email protected] Jessica Mankel, Tel. ext. -145 E-Mail: [email protected] Anna Martin, Tel. ext. -189 E-Mail: [email protected] Arian Schlichenmayer, Tel. ext. -144 E-Mail: [email protected] COPY EDITORS: Philippa Gunn ART DIRECTION: Alexander Weiß SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Readerservice Topos D-65341 Eltville Tel +49 (0)6123/92 38-225 Fax +49 (0)6123/92 38-244 E-Mail: [email protected] BANK ACCOUNT FOR SUBSCRIPTION: Deutsche Bank Freiburg, IBAN DE85 6807 0030 0058 5992 00, BIC DEUTDE6FXXX RECOMMENDED PURCHASE PRICES: Standard subscription Germany: 165,00 EUR Students: 83,00 EUR foreign countries plus shipping costs Combination subscription (plus Garten+Landschaft): Germany: 250,00 EUR Students: 125,00 EUR foreign countries plus shipping costs Single Issue Price: 42,00 EUR German prices include 7% MwSt.(VAT), (GST) ORDERS Subscription can be ordered directly with the publishing house or through newsagents or bookstores. 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114 topos 125 Edge City The statement that wealth in Germany is unequally distributed probably comes as no surprise to anyone. However, if one looks at the figures, the extent is shocking: the richest 1% of the wealth distribution – i.e. 800,000 people – own 35% of the assets, the richest 10% own 67.3%, while the poorer half of the population – i.e. 41 million people – own only 1.2% of all assets. This extreme inequality is also the result of a tax policy that has systematically privileged the wealthy and has continuously reduced the taxation of wealth and inheritances. This has led to a dangerous concentration of capital and influence in the hands of the few, while more and more people struggle as they face material insecurity. On the other hand, there are whopping capital market gains in the pandemic, billionaires flying into space and discussions about whether we should not increase the exemption amounts for inheritance tax. We at taxmenow belong predominantly to this part of society, namely to the richest 1% of the wealth distribution. Apart from a few entrepreneurs and a bitcoin millionaire, many of us are people who owe their wealth to the good fortune of being born into a wealthy family. This is typical of the situation in Germany, where half of all wealth is not acquired through one’s own work, but through inheritances and gifts - this is even more true in the case of very high fortunes. We like to call ourselves a “meritocracy” – “dynastic society” is more like it. Inheritances exacerbate inequality, as the rich bequeath most of their wealth to their already wealthy children. The poorer 70%, on the other hand, inherit little or even debt, leaving no prospect of improving their financial situation. The steady entrenchment of this inequality through inheritance poses a threat to democracy, as it leads to the concentration of power and influence in the hands of a few. One way to curb this dangerous development is to make the taxation of wealth fairer. The German Federal Constitutional Court has already pointed out the importance of inheritance tax to create social equality of opportunity and prevent the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few. However, current inheritance tax law is complex and full of exceptions that are exploited by high-net-worth individuals and their tax advisors to dodge taxation. We know, partly from our own experience, that above a certain level of inheritance, tax payment is effectively voluntary. The unique privilege of being able to exempt oneself from taxation in this way is reserved for the very wealthy. Of course, these possibilities do not exist for value-added tax or income tax - and not for small and medium-sized inheritances either. Every year, the state thereby loses 5-10 billion Euros in tax revenues that could be used for urgently needed investments in infrastructure, education and the future. Instead, the money remains in the hands of a few, and the sum grows larger year after year. We wealthy heirs are an expression of an extreme and growing wealth inequality, which is partly the result of legislative decisions that favor large fortunes, and which urgently need to be reconsidered and revised. We want prosperity, participation, and social security for all. The prerequisite for this is a strong and fair tax system that ensures redistribution in a democratic and transparent way and strengthens the common good and democracy by funding public goods and services. 16 MARLENE ENGELHORN EDGE CITY Fortunes, inheritances, wealth – tax them now!
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