(April 11, 2003) As the past few years have amply shown, Messestadt Riem, once the site of Munich's airport, is a dynamically-growing community. Thanks to this growth, which manifests itself in the ever-greater number of buildings completed in the community, the pioneering days are slowly but surely coming to an end. These buildings include Munich's trade fair center, and a large number of residential and commercial complexes.

In addition to these structures, Messestadt Riem offers a large number of-well-planned-green and leisure-time areas and facilities. It has one of the world's great views: of the Alps.

It all adds up to a community with a very palpable flair.

It was, as it were, the SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) which were the first to recognize how attractive Messestadt Riem really is. The strength of the SMEs' interest is shown by a few facts.

The SMEs have purchased virtually all of the parcels foreseen in the community for their use. The companies have, by now, either constructed (and occupied) buildings on their properties, or are completing the planning of same.

The SMEs were followed by a large number of larger-sized, equally renowned companies. With these including Nemetschek, the companies have transferred or built headquarters, production and logistics facilities to and in Messestadt Riem. One of the major developments undertaken over the past two years is that of SynergyOnline. Located at what was once the point of entry at Munich Airport and what is now the community's central business district, the development includes the Wappenhalle (Coat of Arms). South of the development is the META complex. It features a high-profile design, and occupies a prime piece of property. Situated between the complex and Munich's trade fair center is the community's central lake.

The heart of Messestadt Riem will be Riem Arcades. Now in the process of being completed, this mall will offer a world of shopping and other pleasures, and will serve as the community's downtown. To open its doors in 2004, the mall will have three floors. They will be home to some 160 stores, plus a number of cafés and restaurants, a wellness center, gyms, a movie complex and much more.

The ecclesiastical center will be located right next door. The design of this multi-confessional place of worship was selected through a competition, and was then further developed using input from local residents. Once the object of heated controversy, the design now displays, thanks to this process, a number of highly interesting features.

As the mall is located at the point of intersection of residential and commercial life, and as it faces Munich's trade fair center and Messestadt Riem's main park, its completion will be a cornerstone in the implementation of the community's master plan. It, in turn, accords a central role to Willy-Brandt-Platz.

The successes recorded by Munich's trade fair authority detail the wisdom of the decision to build its new center in Messestadt Riem. Some 40 fairs and exhibitions, 120 congresses and 250 third party events are held at the center every year. These are attended by a total of 2.3 million people. These numbers make Munich one of the world's leading venues for trade fairs.

These successes have caused the completion of the trade fair center's annex to be put on a fast track. The construction of a multi-story garage has greatly eased the parking situation.

Ground was recently broken at the trade fair center for a further two halls. They will house the soccer world championship's media center. To be held in 2006, the event will attract thousands of journalists and technicians to the center and to our city. As they will be in residence for several months, the event will provide the economy of Messestadt Riem and that of the city of Munich as a whole with a big boost.

The new center will also buttress, in a very special way, Munich's reputation for being one of the world's great centers of high-tech.

On the fair's roof is something in which I take a great deal of personal pleasure: its photovoltaic facility. Commissioned in 1997, the facility was recently expanded. It now produces enough electricity to meet the needs of 700 households, saving in the process up to 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide, one of the most dangerous of the greenhouse gases.

All that's needed to experience Messestadt Riem's flair is to visit the community's residential area. The area's streets are urban agglomerations. The buildings lining the streets feature interior yards bursting with greenery. The buildings themselves have an unobstructed view of the Alps.

Messestadt Riem is especially attractive for families with young children, as this community has both the living space and amenities the families want and need. All in all, it adds up to a community offering a high quality of living.

Next up for residential development is the area stretching south of the Messestadt Ost subway stop. The area will feature 1,250 housing units, a school, and a business park some 1.4 hectares in size.

Incorporated into the developments now in the pipeline are the insights gained in the planning and construction of the past ones. One key insight: the way to set up a community which works is to entice a well-balanced mix of income groups to it. The way to achieve this is to provide housing appealing to each of these groups: rent-subsidized apartments, housing purchased via the Munich model of financing (which features government assistance in procuring capital and bottom-of-market total costs of acquisition and/or rental) and free market buying of either apartments and town houses.

Messestadt Riem is a pioneer and a role model in a number of ways. One particular way: ecology. To repeat what has been achieved in Messestadt Riem, a number of communities have enacted laws and regulations pertaining to energy conservation and other matters. I view this 'copycatting' as being confirmation of the wisdom of Messestadt Riem's insistence on EIMI ("ecologically informed master planning and implementation"). This approach has populated Messtadt Riem's green areas with bats, toads, swifts, swallows and other species facing loss of habitat.

Messestadt Riem's central park is also nearing completion. Its first segment has been finished, with the second to follow in 2004. The latter will contain a hill perfect for sledding and a 14 hectare-large lake. They will be favorites with local swimmers and skaters.

As the above activities detail, the park, because it provides a venue for sports and sojourning in nature, is one of the community's greatest assets. The park is also a feast for the eyes. Its plants (which include 30,000 trees) have been grouped so as to provide a parade of vistas-of the Alps, of neighboring communities and of Messestadt Riem itself.

The park will be in 2005 the venue for Germany's National Garden Festival. To open its doors on April 28 and to go on for the following six months, the Festival will provide some 4 million visitors with the opportunity to celebrate the completion of the park. The event will also represent the community's coming of age.

The Festival will be a parade of horticultural wonders. It will detail the artful ways in which nature, human skills and technologies can be made to work together. The Festival will show how attractive and livable a community can be made to be. It will thus represent a crowning moment in the creation of Messestadt Riem.

The EIMI of Messestadt Riem started with the environmentally-friendly disposal of the airport's halls, hangars and runways, and the recycling of the ensuing materials. It was set forth in the construction of Munich's new trade fair center, and of the first tranche of residential and commercial complexes. A prime focus of this approach was, as you might expect, the community's central park.

The Festival will offer a series of attractive events. As these will draw visitors to all parts of Messestadt Riem, the events will provide many persons with their first glimpse of this venue for high-quality living, business and leisure-time activities.

The Festival is the product of the close working relationships created between the organizers and the community, the city of Munich as a whole, and the region of which it forms the hub. The Festival thus represents an opportunity-of which we plan to take full advantage-of showing how the parts of the Munich region complement each other, and how they form a well-functioning entity.

Let me close with an invitation: come and take a look for yourself at the process of creation of Munich's newest community, a community featuring high-profile, often criticized (some times quite correctly so) architecture, a community which will no doubt serve as a role for others.

Some portions of this text have been summarized.

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