Conversion of the Brunnenhalle: Koblenz decides on the future of culture!

Conversion of the Brunnenhalle: Koblenz decides on the future of culture!

In Bad Dürkheim, the planned renovation of the fountain hall to the cultural and congress center is currently in the focus of legal disputes. The hearing of the Koblenz Higher Administrative Court recently took place and lasted almost two hours. A judgment is expected in March 2025 and the first tendencies were already apparently during the negotiation. Built in the 1930s, the fountain hall is a central event building that is now to be renovated and expanded.

On April 14, 2022, the district administration of Bad Dürkheim granted the building permit for this conversion. The plans include the cultivation of a tourist information as well as an office unit and gastronomy. However, existing parts of the building must be demolished for the implementation. The decision for approval was based on a sound -related report that excludes unreasonable noise pollution.

legal challenges

The lawsuit against the building permit was raised by an owner of two adjacent plots of land that was injured in her rights. Her living area borders on the fountain hall, which is why she argued that the planned changes could cause inadequate noise emissions. However, the plaintiff was not right in the judgment of the 5th Chamber of the Neustadt Administrative Court, which was delivered on August 1, 2023. The court found that the building permit did not create third -party protection claims for property owners outside the planning area.

If the "Kurgebiet" development plan is possible, a law violation of the applicant would be excluded, since the Brunnenhalle was in a factual mixed area. The structure and operation of the planned cultural center are therefore bound to the legal requirements of the development plan, which advocates sustainable use of the hall.

meaning of the cultural infrastructure

The conversion of the Brunnenhalle is also considered against the background of the general development of cultural infrastructure in Germany. This ranges from spatial planning to the financial framework for cultural projects. The need for the renovation and expansion of cultural institutions such as the Brunnenhalle reflects the current trend to strengthen and expand the cultural landscape in cities.

In Berlin, for example, cultural spaces are promoted by a comprehensive investment program, which also contributes to strengthening the work space program. The aim is to secure a total of 5,000 subsidized rooms by 2030. Such initiatives show that the cultural sector is of central importance not only for the identity of a city, but also contributes to the economic development and the creation of jobs.

The Brunnenhalle could therefore be a key project to intensify the cultural infrastructure of Bad Dürkheim and to set new impulses for the region, while the legal situation around the renovation remains exciting. The outcome of the procedure will be crucial for the future use of this central place.

Rheinpfalz reports that the judgment occurs in March 2025. In a supplementary report, Rheinland-Pfalz the important step in the approval process. It is also important to consider the context of cultural development, as shown in the report on the cultural initiatives in Berlin