Presenter: Gene Berryhill, Ph.D. Fulbright Senior Scholar/Senior Specialist and Germany Archaeology, Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Photography of Historical Art Transforming Landscapes in Lusatia, Germany Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) Fürst-Pückler-Land

Internationale Bauausstellung in Brandenburg (IBA) This conservation project begun in 2000 is scheduled to be completed by The exhibition is a futuristic vision for this mining region. Through 24 exemplary projects, IBA is facilitating economic, creative and ecological support for required environmental renovation. The IBA logo “see” refers to the Lusatian Lake Land, which is being created here (See = German for “lake” or “sea”) and, at the same time, invites you to "see" the region with new eyes.

Region: Cottbus July 2006, I had the opportunity to visit this ecologically devastated region in Lusatia near Cottbus, on the eastern border of Germany.

Applied Sciences University in Potsdam Design Department faculty made the fieldtrip down to the south of Brandenburg. We were involved with a promotional exhibition titled, “Land in Motion.”

My job: Shoot 200 photographs giving perspectives and personal visions of what I saw and experienced concerning this damaged environment. Work in progress: An interpretive documentary for a book.

Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Brandenburg's Minister for the Environment, opened the "Energy Region of Lusatia" exhibition on global climate change and regional structural change in Lusatia. “Lusatia has the capacity to become the laboratory for new environmental technologies which will be marketed from here. Today we are opening the first section of this future laboratory.”

The rehabilitation work in progress is supported by the mining companies, the government and reunified Germany.

The Nuts and Bolts F-60s are the largest machines in the world and have effectively destroyed all life in this region due to 150 years of lignite strip mining.

F-60 STATS: Some facts about the giant Year of manufacture: 1989 – 1991 Total length: 502 m (1,647 f) Width: m (46 – 669 f) Height: up to 80 m (262 f) Weight:13,500 t (1m = about 3f)

Climbing To the top

“Horizontal Eiffel Tower of Lusatia”

A young falcon out of its nest at the top of the F-60

The results left a deserted, unearthly landscape, resembling the moon’s surface that stretches for miles.

The devastation led not only to the destruction of the lands but also the infrastructure, culture and population of the Lusatia (Lausitz) region.

The finished outcomes will include beautiful landscaping appropriate for recreational facilities such as parks and campgrounds.

It will feature 8 “landscape islands” containing model-like projects.

Total flooding is scheduled from 2020 to 2030.

The most surprising solution to me was the plan to fill the deep craters dug by the F-60s with water, creating the lakes.

Here is an example of contemporary housing floating on the water with docks and sailboat slips.

Restoration of this region, once the energy center of the former GDR, involves ecological stability, beautiful landscaping, residences and recreational facilities such as parks, lakes and campgrounds. The conservation techniques are highly innovative and represent a model for future restorations in other countries.

Currently, locations in Italy and Poland are also partners with this restructuring of cultural landscapes (REKULA). The IBA continues to build bridges across national and international borders.

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