Edition Bauhaus 35
While politcians continue to maintain that no one wants to interfere with the constitutional principle of the »equality of living conditions«, practices in thinly populated regions have long since begun telling a different story. Schools are being closed, buses put out of service, there is a shortage of doctors, technical services are becoming increasingly expensive, and cultural offerings are diminishing. Out of necessity, citizens are themselves beginning to attend to issues related to the provision of services of general interest. Spatial pioneers are getting involved in the supply of water, gas, and electricity, as well as transportation, healthcare, education, recreation, and culture. In the process, new forms of cooperation are developing between cilvil society and government agencies. Yet in those places where both of them fail, democratic polity is at great risk. The book analyses the status quo, ountlines innovative spatial policies, introduces a dozen projects that have been put into practice, and carries on a debate on this issue with spatial pioneers, politicians, scholars, and artists: with texts by Tina Veihelmann, with project contributions from Atelier von Lieshout and with photos from Werner Mahler, Frank Schinski (OSTKREUZ).
