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What will happen to the former C&A building in Dresden?
C&A is moving from Seestrasse to Prager Strasse in Dresden. Renovation of the old location provides new sales space and office space.
What will happen to the former C&A building in Dresden?
C&A's move to Dresden city center brings a breath of fresh air to Seestrasse. As Sächsische reports, the company has moved its branch from Seestrasse 7 to Prager Strasse 10. The new location offers a sales area of approximately 3,200 square meters, which is 1,600 square meters less than the old branch. In order to master the change and the associated challenges, C&A has reduced the prices in the collections by 30 percent.
The tiles in the old C&A building have currently been removed, signaling the impending renovation. This building from the 1990s is being redesigned by two Berlin families. Architect Sergei Tchoban has taken over the renovation and plans to re-establish retail space on the ground floor. A two-story customer center for a health insurance company will also be built on the side street “An der Mauer”.
New look for the city center
The upper floors of the old C&A building are intended for offices or possibly hotel use, although the latter option is considered unlikely. Residential use remains in the roof area. Tchoban's design calls for a continuous closed facade with tall windows divided vertically by fluted stone details. These new elements could give the area a fresh look and help enliven the cityscape. Commission chairman Wolfgang Lorch praised the renovation as a “stroke of luck for the city”.
City councilor Stefan Engel from the SPD has already expressed his concerns about the ground floor zones and called for changes that could help revitalize the area. Matthias Lerm, the head of the city planning department, referred to considerations about greening the alleys, which could further increase the attractiveness of the city center.
Challenges for retail
However, as the BBSR states, the retail sector is confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises. These factors are putting a strain on the economy in the city centers and are questioning the future viability of the businesses located there. The study shows that there are increasing vacancies that need to be avoided. This means that cities have to be creative to repurpose retail and office space to ensure quality of life.
The combination of moving, conversion and the challenges of retail is a sensitive topic for the city of Dresden. However, with foresight and a good knack for innovative concepts, the urban space could be given a new shine.