Unveiling of Butscha Square and Atelier in the city
Zanders Area Opening Event to Take Place on September 13, 2025
On September 13, 2025, the Zanders area in Bergisch Gladbach will host an opening event as part of the nationwide Tag des offenen Denkmals (Day of Open Heritage). The event runs from 11:00 to 18:00 and promises a variety of attractions for visitors.
The heart of the event will be the official opening of the new Butscha-Platz and the Atelieretage (studio floor). Visitors will have the opportunity to explore several historic buildings of the former paper factory, which have been closed for a long time. Guided tours will showcase the history and future development of the Zanders area.
The cultural program includes an exhibition by the Bergische Kunstschule (Bergisch Art School), with students presenting their works in the protected Kalandersaal. Wolfgang Heuwinkel will officially hand over his nature sculpture as a gift to the city to Mayor Frank Stein.
The historic industrial architecture of the Zanders area is being rethought as a foundation for modern living, cultural life, and future-oriented work. The "Urban Development on Zanders - Industrial History Meets Urban Planning" tour will demonstrate how protected industrial buildings can be sustainably preserved and transformed for new uses within an urban quarter.
The event will kick off with a performance by the hip-hop project "Create Hip-Hop EmPOWERment" and a partnership shuffle. Mayor Frank Stein and Anatolii Fedoruk, Mayor of Bucha, will present the Butscha Square at 11 a.m. A blessing of the square by a representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Ukrainian Patriarchate in Cologne) is planned.
Gasthaus Paas will be present with a pop-up beer garden and a selection of savory and sweet dishes at the Old Central Workshop, which will be accessible throughout the day. Interested citizens can visit the ateliers from 1:30 p.m. onwards, with guided tours available. The atelier floor, where local artists have temporary studios, will be visited by Mayor Frank Stein.
The Old Central Workshop, where a socio-cultural center for the new quarter will be created in the coming years, is centrally located in the future district, near the Rail Park, the Forum building, and the listed power station. The nature sculpture is located on the cleared pedestal of the steam locomotive "Emma" in the Rail Park.
The Zanders area project team will offer a supporting program, including an information event on the current status of the development planning for the Zanders area. The potential of the Zanders area and its cultural and identity-forming value should be preserved and strengthened through new uses and transferred into a sustainable future.
This event is distinct from the broader Stadt- und Kulturfest Bergisch Gladbach held from September 12-14, 2025, which includes music, sports, markets, and family activities in the city center.
[1] Tag des offenen Denkmals [2] Stadt- und Kulturfest Bergisch Gladbach
