KANN ICH DANN NOCH DAS WASSER SEHEN?

Studyproject, 2024, 140 x 190 mm, Risography & digital print, 6 pcs

Fotography: Hannah Agel, Design, Layout & Print: Marie Janeczek & Hannah Agel

„Holtenau Ost is Kiel’s district of the future.“ The city of Kiel is planning a massive construction project, with numbers and dimensions so vast that, combined with the sheer scale of the area, they feel almost incomprehensible to us — so we start by sitting down.

Over a month we meet once a week for our experiment at the southern entrance of the MFG5 site; north of the Tonnenhof. Here are four public benches positioned along the waterfront with a view of the Förde, which we visit one by one. With this gentle, consistent and observational approach we begin to engage with this elusive place.

We sit on each bench for one hour. Attentively we look around: we listen, smell and observe. What is actually here? What stands out to us? What changes from week to week? We tune into ourselves and the surroundings, talk to one another, gaze at the water and let our thoughts wander. We get to know the place, begin to appreciate the peculiarities of its current state. We ask ourselves questions about its development but also its preservation.

The observations, dialogues, notes, drawings and photographs gathered during the experiment in this book stand next to the „Vision for Holtenau Ost.“ This document by the city of Kiel „[…] serves as a guide for citizens, businesses, planning offices, and development partners such as the state of Schleswig-Holstein. […] Based on this, the Integrated Urban Development Concept, various specialized plans, and the Quality Manual will be developed.“

We ask ourselves what will remain, what will come and what we will miss.