How Cologne used culture to revive Neumarkt Square
Project: Codesigning a two-month long cultural programme to transform a historic city square
Cologne’s central square, Neumarkt, was revitalised in 2023 through Take a Seat, a cultural activation project using temporary architecture and community-led programming. A public gathering point since Medieval times, the square had become known for drug use. This initiative used culture, placemaking, and collaboration with artists, institutions, and citizens to reclaim the space. Over two summer months, it hosted daily open-air cultural events, contributing to broader citywide public space renewal.
A historic square in decline
Neumarkt, Cologne’s largest square, has been a central gathering place since 1076. It holds deep cultural value, home to institutions such as the Käthe Kollwitz Museum and the central library, and is the starting point of the iconic Rosenmontagszug, the peak event of the Cologne Carnival. Despite this rich history, Neumarkt had fallen into disuse and disrepute.
By 2023, the square had developed a reputation as a hotspot for drug-related activity and antisocial behaviour. Even regular police interventions failed to meaningfully improve the situation. This deterred visitors and contributed to the square’s cultural erosion, threatening its role as a shared civic and cultural space.
Culture as intervention
In response, the City of Cologne launched Take a Seat – Culture at Neumarkt as part of a broader effort to reassert the square’s civic identity. A creative workshop held in March 2023 with over 50 participants – including artists, cultural organisers, municipal employees, and local residents – set the foundation for collaborative planning to reimagine how Neumarkt could be used for inclusive, creative public life. The goal was not only cultural programming, but urban transformation through public space activation.
Temporary infrastructure, long-term vision
The centrepiece of the project was a striking temporary pavilion by artist Erika Hock. This weather-resistant structure served as a cultural anchor on the square during summer 2023.
Between June and August, Take a Seat hosted a wide range of public cultural events: open-air exhibitions, readings, lectures, concerts, film and photo screenings, and activities tailored to children and young people. And the PhotoBookMuseum curated the exhibition Mittendrin, showcasing work by photographer Wolfgang Zurborn, further grounding the project in Cologne’s contemporary visual culture scene.
All programming was free of charge and designed to encourage spontaneous participation and for people to spend more time in the square. Around 30 guests could engage daily with programming inside the pavilion, while larger public events spilled across the square, reclaiming Neumarkt as a destination for safe, civic interaction.
A replicable model for cultural-led urban renewal
Take a Seat – Culture at Neumarkt offers a replicable model for other cities grappling with public space decline. By using temporary infrastructure, inclusive cultural programming, and community co-creation, Cologne demonstrates how public spaces can be reactivated as cultural and civic commons.
However, the city emphasises that cultural programming alone cannot fix complex urban challenges. Take a Seat was integrated into parallel efforts in mobility planning, urban design, and social support services. Together, these layers aim to transform Neumarkt into a space that invites all citizens to dwell in the square, interact, and participate.
The case of Cologne’s central square, Neumarkt, highlights the power of culture not as an isolated activity, but as a structural tool in long-term urban and social transformation.
