Gellerup

Gellerupparken

Gellerup is a district of Brabrand and western suburb to the city of Aarhus, Denmark. The name Gellerup is also commonly used to refer to a large housing project called The Gellerup Plan (danish: 'Gellerup Planen') located in the suburb, project containing people from many places in the world.

The Gellerup Plan

To address the housing problems that suddenly emerged in the late 1960s, Brabrand Housing Cooperative initiated and financed The Gellerup Plan. Envisioned by architects Knud Blach Petersen (1919-2008) and Mogens Harbo (1935-2000) and inspired by the modernistic and functionalistic thoughts of Le Corbusier, The Gellerup Plan was constructed in the years of 1968-72 and contains a total of 2448 apartments in 4 to 8 story blocks. They are shared between two neighbouring sectors named Gellerupparken and Toveshøj, containing 1824 and 624 tenancies respectively . The buildings consists of the characteristic high rise concrete apartments constructed of large, prefabricated concrete slabs, that revolutionized the building industry after WWII. The Gellerup Plan is the single largest housing project in Denmark, with approximately 8,000 residents, but was originally planned to house more than twice as many people in 6000 apartments

The project was built as a self-supporting satellite city, containing a city mall (City Vest), complete with post office, bank, dentist, doctors, general and grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, cafées, hairdressing saloons, cinema, etc.

The individual apartments of the Gellerup Plan were built very large, with lots of sunlight and open space between the blocks. They were and are central heated (hot water circulation) and equipped with bathrooms - even bathtubs -, which was a mere luxury for the vast majority of Aarhus citizens in the early 60'ies

City Vest

The area's mall was designed by architectural firm Tougård (under Knud Blach Petersen) and assisted by consulting engineering company Nieport & Co, City Vest was finished in 1972. At 45.000 m2 and in two stories, it was, at the time, by far the largest mall in all of Denmark, at the time; today it is the third largest mall in Denmark.

At first, it was called Gellerup Center and was owned in part by Brabrand Housing Cooperative, the representative organization for the residents. Initially, great profits were made, but some were invested unwisely, and other communally owned elements of the housing projects (such as the swimming pool) were less successful. In the end, the cooperative sold their shares, and the Gellerup Center went bankrupt in 1976.

The insurance company Baltica bought 'Gellerup Center' for kr 125,7 million, started a serious repair, renovation and redevelopment of the building in 1980 and changed the malls name to City Vest. Today City Vest is owned by Danica Pension.

The Bazaar

There is a Bazaar in the Northern part of The Gellerup Plan, owned and developed by a large Danish building company (Olav de Linde), though having a democratic structure involving the shopkeepers on many levels in daily affairs. It offers around 110 small businesses offering a great selection of ethnic goods, run mostly by immigrants who have rented stands of different sizes. Bazar Vest claims to have around 30.000 visitors each week (with 10.000 on the weekends alone).

Crime

The Gellerup Plan has been known for its high crime rate and social problems and therefore a special police-unit, has been dedicated to the area , as well as several social projects for the locals . In the popular newspaper BT, Gellerup was declared the most dangerous place in Denmark because of the crime rate in 2008.

In the beginning of 2007 a local Shell gas station had to close down after years of problems including robberies, assault on staff and customers. The area around the 24 hour gas station was commonly a scene of crime and confrontations between the youth and the police.

In mid February 2008, the area was terrorised by arsonists for several days. Some days there were around twenty incidents of arson spread over the western suburbs. Most of it began when young people started throwing firecrackers onto cars from the elevated walkway over a passing boulevard. After this episode dumpsters and cars were set on fire all over the neighbourhood. The fire department only went into the area with a police escort. In October 2008 the local kindergarten Viben, were burned to the ground by some children, destroying valuables for an estimated 7 million kr.. The two families of the boys committing the crime, was expelled from their apartments and the Gellerup area in 2010 after two court cases.

Recent examples of crimes: see ref. . By no means a complete list.

The Master Plan

A big project meant for improving the quality of life and overall image of the area, has now been launched: The Master Plan (danish: 'Helhedsplanen'). Budgeted at a staggering kr 452+ million ($ 75-80 million), the project is now in full swing. From The Master Plan web-site it reads: "The master plan is the overall plan that describes how to change Gellerup and Toveshøj from a disadvantaged residential area to an attractive urban district. Through implementing physical changes, we are creating - in collaboration with the residents - the necessary foundation for social improvements."

There have been quite a bit of controversy over the project, especially the removal of housing blocks and the lack of involvement of the affected citizens . But now the project have been launched anyway.

The Mosque Project

For many years islamic (and other) organizations, have worked towards raising a big Mosque in the area af Gellerup . The Mosque is still in the planning and fundraising phase, but The Mosque Project have nevertheless stirred a lot of heated debates in Aarhus and Denmark (and even abroad), over the years. This debate have involved all kinds from the political scene, ie. Islamists, rightwing extremists, anti-fascist movements, more socially accepted political parties from the municipality and even the everyday-opinion of 'the man on the street'.

Social Activities

There is many things to do and ways to get active, growing up and living in The Gellerup Plan. Examples are: music (especially rap and hip-hop is popular activities ) , dancing (especially break dance ) , journalism , film and TV , gardening , theatre , circus, sports of all kinds and then there are a plethora of social projects, engaging both kids and adults of all ages and walks of life.

It is hoped that the dense concentration of differences can somehow be propelled into vital, energizing and enriching expressions and lives, instead of the destructive and hatefilled ones, we know already.

Transportation

Gellerup is connected to the surrounding neighbourhoods by several bus lines. Bus 5, 16 and 18 is going towards Aarhus City, through Aabyhøj, while bus 15 is passing through Hasle. A local bus line 74 is going towards the northern neighbourhood Tilst.

External links

• Neighborhoodportal gellerup.nu