Project-oriented planning in the framework of IBA Emscher Park

Th e objective of this paper is to expand the discussion concerning the old industrial regions in the context of perspective incrementalism strategy, which was implemented in the framework of IBA Emscher Park in the northern part of the Ruhr Area during 1990s. Principles and mechanisms of perspective incrementalism and project-oriented planning in the framework of IBA Emscher Park showed the possibilities leading to elimination of the non-innovative milieu which can be with regards to specifi c conditions used also in the old industrial regions of the Czech Republic. One of the major assets and achievements of the IBA was based on profi ling the soft localization factors (ILS, 2003) ? from the change of image, development of culture, to leisure- time activities and environmental conditions. It was the revaluation of the industrial heritage that contributed signifi - cantly to the transformation of region?s image and creation of new symbols (Landmarks), from which emerged a number of high-quality fl agship projects (Zeche Zollverein, or Gasometer Oberhausen. Th e IBA with its projects did not want to resign on its history; on the contrary it made it absolutely intentionally its major identifi cation element. Emphasis on culture is another highly inspiring element. IBA was the fi rst strategy linking up in large measure art, culture, business support, and city development (Freundt, 2003). Th is strong orientation on culture in functional diffusion of landscape, architecture, and music was untypical, particularly for the reason that the old industrial regions are not usually among the especially innovative regions in the sphere of culture (Kunzmann, 1999). Th e limited perception of the results in revaluation of the regional industrial heritage can be regarded as a problem, because of its orientation on results and not on the process or context in which the projects emerged. Th e transfer of other innovative impulses is limited on one hand by the low quality of informal institutions in relations to the political or economic behaviour, which is characteristic for industrial regions undergoing the post-socialistic transformation (Bürkner et al., 2005), and on the other hand by the sceptic attitude of formal institutions (public sector) towards innovations and novel concepts (Rumpel, 2002).