"The 'Fritz Heckert' residential area. Building in new dimensions"
City archive book wins this year's state prize for local history research
The city archive has published a new book to mark the 45th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for the city's largest residential area in October 1974.
Volume no. 12 of the series "Aus dem Stadtarchiv Chemnitz" entitled "Das Wohngebiet 'Fritz Heckert'. Bauen in neuen Dimensionen" by Mr Norbert Engst sheds light on the history of the Fritz Heckert area and was awarded 1st prize in the main category of the Saxon State Prize for Local History Research 2020.
The book spans an arc from the history of the then independent communities of Markersdorf and Helbersdorf (now districts of Chemnitz) to the start of construction planning for today's Südring in 1919 and the development plans of the 1920s and 1930s to the construction of the residential area. In addition to life in the "Heckert", the author also focusses on the underground infrastructure. He shows why the Fritz Heckert area ultimately remained unfinished and, at the same time, the problems and opportunities associated with demolition and demolition in the recent past.
The aim of the book is to offer the city's residents new and unexpected insights not only into Chemnitz's past, but also into everyday life, thus creating respect and curiosity for their neighbourhood.
Norbert Engst's book also represents the first step in a historical discourse that, through several communicative milestones, will celebrate both the 50th anniversary of the Fritz Heckert area in 2024 in line with the "Cultural strategy of the city of Chemnitz for the years 2018 - 2030: Giving Culture Space" as well as the Capital of Culture year 2025 with the "Fritz51" project in mind.
The book is available from the Chemnitz City Archive for 41.70 euros and in bookshops.