Hartmannfabrik: Visitor and information centre for Chemnitz 2025
New centre of the European Capital of Culture after renovation
An important milestone has been reached on the way to Chemnitz becoming European Capital of Culture 2025: on 3 May 2024, the historic Hartmannfabrik was handed over to Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH following extensive refurbishment. As a visitor and information centre, the former factory building is the central point of contact for visitors to the Capital of Culture.
In addition to offices and an information centre, a flexible event hall has been created on an area of over 2,000 square metres, which will host a diverse programme during the Capital of Culture year. As the centre for Chemnitz 2025, the Hartmannfabrik is set to become a lively international meeting place in the city, where the rich industrial past will provide inspiration for a visionary future.
The extensive refurbishment of the Hartmannfabrik, the last remaining production site of Chemnitz's "locomotive king", has been completed.
From now on, it will be home to the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH. The Hartmannfabrik will be presented to the public with an open day on Friday, 3 May. From 4 p.m., there will be an opportunity to take a look back at the historic building's past and look ahead to the future of the European Capital of Culture. The Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH team will be on hand to answer questions. Artists will offer a varied live music programme and there will also be activities for children.
This representative centrepiece of Chemnitz 2025 is one of 30 infrastructure projects for the Capital of Culture. After standing empty for a long time, the listed building was renovated in a successful public-private partnership by the Pfeifer family of entrepreneurs, with additional funding from the federal government, the Free State of Saxony and the City of Chemnitz. The hall, built in 1864, was once part of the globally successful engineering company of "locomotive king" Richard Hartmann. Just as it was a centre of industrial progress back then, the Hartmannfabrik is now once again a place for creativity and innovation and a symbol of the city's ability to change, which is characterised by many transformation processes.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "It is a piece of the city's history that has been refurbished for the future: The production hall on Fabrikstraße is one of the last remaining buildings of the Hartmann-Werke, which exported locomotives from Chemnitz all over the world around 1900. The fact that the heart of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 is now beating in this historic location is fantastic! My thanks go to everyone involved in this refurbishment. Special thanks go to investor Udo Pfeifer, who has shown unrivalled commitment. The new Hartmannfabrik is a part of the Capital of Culture that will certainly remain a vibrant part of the city beyond 2025."
The Saxon State Government Commissioner for the Capital of Culture, State Secretary Prof Thomas Popp: "It is fortunate that the handover of the Hartmann Factory in Chemnitz coincides with Europe Week. This newly renovated cultural monument, one of the places of new beginnings, shows what it means when Chemnitz - also thanks to entrepreneurial commitment - commits itself to its industrial cultural tradition and reinvents itself as a city on the river. A joyful occasion on the way to the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 to learn about Europe, to commit to European democracy and to celebrate Europe."
Andrea Pier, Commercial Director of Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH: "As European Capital of Culture, we are hosting the event for a whole year. I am delighted that we are able to welcome our guests from Chemnitz, the region and all over the world to this wonderful new location. I hope that we succeed in turning the Hartmannfabrik 2025 into a lively, cosmopolitan and inclusive meeting place where the spirit of the European Capital of Culture year will be felt far into the future."
Udo Pfeifer, owner of the Hartmannfabrik: "The Hartmannfabrik is an important testimony to the industrial history of our city. Until the 1920s, Hartmann-Werke was one of the leading mechanical engineering companies in Saxony, whose products were exported worldwide. I am proud to be building a bridge to the future of our city with the renovation of this listed building - from the former industrial metropolis to the European Capital of Culture 2025. For me, the conversion of the Hartmannfabrik into a modern, open event venue and meeting place where people from Chemnitz and all over the world can come together reflects exactly the transformation process that we are planning in our city with the Chemnitz 2025 project."
Review
13 September 2023: Site visit and information on construction progress
After the historic crane bridge was reinstalled in August 2022, representatives of the press and other visitors were able to see the current construction progress during a tour of the construction site accompanied by Nexus Management GmbH.
The façade is largely complete. Inside, the future room layouts are also recognisable, along with a spacious reception hall for European and international guests.
29 August 2022: Historic crane bridge back in place
Construction progress in the Hartmannfabrik: Even if it still requires a lot of imagination - this is where our visitor centre for the European Capital of Culture 2025 is being built!
The building is currently being extensively renovated in line with its listed status. On 29 August 2022, a piece of the building's historic industrial culture was lifted into place with the original crane bridge.
The crane runway was once used to transport parts for machines or locomotives in the hall. The building on Fabrikstraße directly on the Chemnitz is one of the last remaining buildings of the Hartmann-Werke. It was one of the largest industrial companies in the city. Hartmann built locomotives that were exported all over the world.
19 May 2022: Construction site visit: Hartmannfabrik becomes the heart of the Capital of Culture
The traditional building in Fabrikstraße, the last remaining production site of Chemnitz's "locomotive king" Richard Hartmann, has big plans: In 2025, the Hartmannfabrik will be home to the reception centre for guests of the European Capital of Culture and the European Workshop for Culture and Democracy. The European Capital of Culture 2025 GmbH, which is planning and designing the programme for the festival year, will move in before then.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze visited the construction site on 19 May 2022 with the Saxon State Government Commissioner for the European Capital of Culture 2025, State Secretary Thomas Popp, and the members of the Interministerial Working Group European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 (IMAG) to find out about the status of the renovations.
Mayor Schulze: "Here we have the opportunity to draw a line from tradition to the future. Richard Hartmann shaped the city with his locomotives and now we are managing to save the building and finally bring it back to life. What is being created here is sustainable: the new Hartmannfabrik will be a meeting place far beyond the year 2025."
State Secretary Popp: "I am delighted with the commitment shown by the city and the people of Chemnitz. Combining tradition with modernity in this way is a great idea." The regular meetings of the IMAG, including on site, primarily served to monitor progress in the preparations for the Capital of Culture year and to communicate this to the ministries of the state government.
If everything continues to go according to plan, the extensive renovation work will be completed by the end of 2023. Linda Hüttner, Managing Director of the Chemnitz-based construction company Gunter Hüttner: "We are delighted to be part of this unique project for the city! Our colleagues on the construction site are really keen to get involved." However, it is sometimes a pain to have to remove historical structures that come to light during the ongoing demolition and gutting work. This reveals many details that become visible when the plastered masonry is removed. However, the crane system, which can be seen in historical photos, has already been restored and will be put back in place after completion as a reminder of the hall's original function.
The city of Chemnitz is renting the Hartmann Factory far beyond the Capital of Culture year from the Pfeifer family of entrepreneurs, who own the hall. "We have signed a lease until 2029. This is the city's commitment to long-term utilisation," says Lord Mayor Sven Schulze. Among other things, cultural events and exhibitions are then conceivable.