Zeulenroda-Triebes – sustainable urban development in Thuringia in rural areas

Development of a sustainable, integrated urban development concept for the city of Zeulenroda-Triebes in the rural area of Thuringia

Published

13.10.2025

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Author

Olivia Großmann

The challenge in rural areas

In the 1990s and 2000s, the city of Zeulenroda-Triebes faced major challenges due to the economic structural and demographic developments after reunification. The task was to create the conditions for sustainable urban development within the framework of an integrated urban development concept, as well as to prepare and implement key projects and measures in a targeted manner. This was intended to sustainably strengthen the city's functionality as a medium-sized center.

Goals of Sustainable Urban Development

Strengthening the city's economic structure through the development of new commercial sites
Strengthening the residential function of the city through comprehensive urban renewal measures on the one hand
and on the other hand, development of land for new housing construction
Strengthening the city's tourist function due to its location on the Zeulenrodaer Meer

“Integrated urban development concepts sharpen the view for the whole.”

Sabine Wosche Managing Director of LEG

„In 2005, LEG Thüringen became a partner of the city of Zeulenroda-Triebes in the preparation and implementation of integrated urban development measures. The LEG project team worked closely with the city administration, as well as many private builders and investors. Against this background, comprehensive measures were prepared, their financing was supported by a wide range of funding instruments, and numerous key projects were implemented. The integrated implementation of a comprehensive tourism concept for the Zeulenrodaer Meer was one of our key projects.“

From Concept to Urban Redevelopment

1

The basis for the activities of LEG Thüringen was the Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK) from 2002/03, which was updated as needed by the LEG in 2013/14.

2

The ISEK clearly defined the key projects and measures, including the measures in the historic old town as part of urban renewal, as well as the task for revitalization measures of brownfield sites. The project consortium was accompanied; furthermore, further networking with relevant stakeholders, including SMEs and research institutions, took place.

3

On the other hand, the ISEK prepared sites for new housing construction and described in detail the preparation and implementation of measures at the Zeulenrodaer Meer.

4

LEG acted as a redevelopment and urban restructuring agent and took over project management at the Zeulenrodaer Meer – always in close cooperation with the city administration, private developers in the old town, businesses, and the city's housing companies – and with the involvement of the public.

Creating sustainable infrastructure

Milestones in urban development included the revitalization of three inner-city areas formerly used for commercial purposes for housing construction and a medical care center, the sustainable redesign of the entire area at Markt/Tuchmarkt including adjacent buildings, the implementation of an architectural competition for the conversion of prefabricated building areas, so that initial construction phases could be successfully realized, the implementation of numerous construction measures on private residential buildings in the historic old town in cooperation with private owners, the implementation of a holistic concept for the realization of a sustainable tourism infrastructure at the Zeulenroda Sea, up to the conduct of a competition and the construction of a holiday home complex.