Koschany + Zimmer Architekten KZA have founded a joint venture with the China Design Group (CDG) from the city of Nanjing. The registration process for the joint venture SINO.GERMAN.DESIGN.STUDIO has been completed a few days ago. To prepare initial projects, high-ranking representatives from the Chinese partner company came to the Rhine-Ruhr area for a one-week visit.
The cooperation between the companies results from the urbanization partnership between China and the European Union, which was agreed in 2012. It is intended to provide solutions for the rapid growth of Chinese cities. The Essen Economic Development Corporation (EWG) implements the EU-China agreement for the city of Essen. In doing so, it advised the founding of the joint venture between the Essen architects and the China Design Group.
A model for sustainability
At the invitation of KZA and EWG, the six-headed Chinese delegation completed an extensive program. Among them were representatives of the Yadong Group from Nanjing. This is because the Chinese investor is currently looking for ideas for the development of generative neighborhoods and sustainable infrastructure in his home country. „In China, Germany is considered to be a pioneer in sustainability,“ emphasized KZA’s CEO Axel Koschany.
And so the hosts had tailored the program to the needs of the Chinese delegation. A lecture on the module construction concept developed by KZA showed how affordable housing can be realized within a short time. And then they made a tour through the Ruhr area.
Destinations were the Zollverein colliery in Essen as well as the German mining museum and the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum. The common theme: the reuse of former industrial buildings and areas, which is becoming increasingly important in China. The Yadong Group has already acquired a former ore mine near Nanjing, which is under monumental protection in essential parts and is now to be reused with the help of the Essen architects.
Focus on urban development
Exceptional models for urban development were also the focus of an excursion to Bad Münstereifel. Here, an investor took over a large part of the local shop floor and turned it into a city outlet in order to counteract the hollowing-out of the old town.
But the guests were still busy. By the year 2020, according to current forecasts, the number of people in the retirement age in China will rise to more than 250 million. The view into German retirement centers and institutions for the elderly therefore found a special appeal.
Counter-visit in September
With a view to the bundled expertise, there is a great interest in creating a project with the German cooperation partners, Chenggang Liu, Managing Director of the Yadong Group, emphasized in a conclusion of the visit. Axel Koschany was also satisfied: „We have received a lot of positive feedback and were able to reach clear agreements about the next steps.“
As early as September, a delegation from Essen led by Dr. Dietmar Düdden, the Managing Director of the EWG, will start off to a counter-visit to China. At that time, the second German-Chinese health conference on geriatrics will take place in Changzhou. There the architects of KZA will contribute important impulses for living concepts in old age.
