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I stand on a narrow, more brown than Green lawn strip in front of a concrete colossus in northwest of Dortmund and cannot make up horizon. The eight-building high-rise complex seems to end up nowhere, neir in height nor in width. I am in front of Hannibal II, one of two terrace buildings that have been part of cityscape since mid-1970s. There is a state of emergency. The day before, 800 residents received call for immediate evacuation. Now y are trying to secure furr have and good. On path in front of shabby-looking doorways, groups have formed. Children sit on baggy suitcases or pull heavily loaded trolleys behind m. Women carry overfilling Laundry baskets, a young man has a hookah in one and a houseplant in or hand. It seems like he doesn’t know where to go. Although re are many people on site, it is remarkably quiet. stoically, bags and mattresses are emptied, faces of inhabitants are mostly closed, from afar I hear slogan so typical of Ruhr: “Must stop.”
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Suddenly a shout in front of high-entrance number 16: A man, surrounded by security personnel, complains loudly about blocked access. At night, city had sealed all 412 apartments of Hannibal and exchanged locking systems of buildings. Only those who have previously registered in a central position and who can prove to be tenants come in. And n only in security support. In addition to furious man, friend kneels crying, she throws cosmetics, kitchen utensils and garments indiscriminately and with desperate force in moving boxes. And if that wasn’t enough, re’s a TV team in immediate vicinity and filming scene. When young woman is no longer able to bear it, she does only comprehensible thing: she reaches for folding, which stands next to crates, rises and moves out of picture.
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In profile y look like giant elephants, and perhaps massive picture also fits public perception of two terraced buildings Hannibal I and II. Like so many or concrete skyscrapers in Germany, two residential complexes have an image problem. This may also be because of high maintenance requirements that were not yet in boom of Brutalism. Despite generous floor plans, flats extending over several floors and expansive terraces, Colossus have become images of social descent over years – and this has also been due to neglect of building substance by Private-sector owners, according to manager of Dortmund Tenant Association, Rainer Beholder. The remedial congestion was not only noticeable since yesterday. But housing is favorable here and city uses offer gladly to relieve strained housing market. About 500 of 800 residents of Hannibal II receive social benefits.
Although image of former working-class city has changed positively thanks to consistently pursued structural changes and number of inhabitants is steadily rising – 2016 for first time in 20 years, two Hannibal-complex examples of how urgent Social housing is needed. And how precarious situation can be if public purse is not owner.
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On 21 September, city of Dortmund surprisingly reported that Hannibal II must be evacuated immediately. The reason for this was fire protection deficiencies, which were determined by tenants ‘ reference during an extraordinary visit to residential complex. There is no spatial separation between underground car park and apartments, supply and disposal shafts were directly connected up and through living quarters. If a fire erupted in underground garage, all flats would be smoked in no time. In addition, sufficient rescue routes were missing. “Body and life” were acutely in danger, city fixed. The terrace was evacuated accordingly quickly.
