Redefining Colombo on Berlin's ideals
Colombo, these days, is 'eagerly' listening to people who have built cities and, this week Germany gave its insights into this topic and areas to focus on when re- creating this commercial capital in line with the Cinnamon Life mixed development project by John Keells Holdings.
One of the biggest problems in Colombo is mobility, the renowned property policy expert, thought leader and Managing Partner of Belius GMbH, Berlin Andreas Kruger said pointing out that authorities need to understand how people come into the city and how should they leave. He made these observations at the first in the series of Cinnamon Life Business Forums organized together with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the German Development Cooperation ( GIZ) to discuss re-building the Colombo city held on Tuesday at the Taj Samudra.
In his perception the use of a light railway solution would work well for the country in addition to the use of natural energy sources, water and waste management.
Taking a leaf from the Berlin experience, he explained that their laws defined the kind of houses that could be built in a city which was nothing above the level of the fire department as a result of which there were quite small and midrange high buildings.
In addition he noted that the concept of car and bike sharing were practiced in the Berlin city that eased the parking available and congestion as well.
One of the buildings that was bombed and remained that way in East Berlin even until the fall of the wall was later during the development phase brought down to be replaced with a garden for vegetables.
Moreover, healthy cuisines with food courts also sprung up in the city catering to the taste buds of the citizens, it was noted.
Another interesting fact of building a city is to place limits on how much is needed for each area as in the case of Berlin the State Assembly once issued a notice to stop the construction of any more shopping malls and centres as there were already about 45.
In terms of investments, Berlin is currently constructing a Japan Berlin Tower similar to what is available in Tokyo to ensure that Japanese investments could be housed there.
Mr. Kruger also identified the use of digital services through automa- tion or digital portal to enhance the offering of state-run services to the country.
The city planner also believed that the city should have its own stakeholders that should be asked to be involved in the process as it is they that need to be a part of this event.
The expert also pointed out that it was indeed important to create increased awareness among the people of the country and in particular those in Colombo of what is happening by ensuring transparency in the process for consultation and in the final preparation inform the people to what's going on.
Commenting on the time taken and how the citizens adapted to the new changes in the city, Mr. Kruger explained that at the start Berlin was stuck in an agony after the fall of the wall.
Then, he pointed out people started coming from all over to Berlin including those overseas to start to convert some of the old buildings to workable places that also attracted investors and the real opening up of the city happened within a space of about 22 years.
Asked as to whether the lands and properties were given to the highest bidder or based on the requirement or the importance level of the project, Mr. Kruger noted that initially although the government would give to the highest bidder later it was offered to those with the right ideas. However, private lands got sold to the highest bidder.
The Cinnamon Life Business Forum Series was launched to share powerful ideas.