German Decay: If Paradise is half as nice

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Germany - once the proud nation of high-tech industry and global-exporting factories - now finds itself fringed by tales of what might have been: abandoned innovation parks, ruined industrial halls, and ambitious visions lost to decay. Nowhere is this transformation more vivid than at the "Sportparadies" in Halle, a monument to big dreams and bigger disappointments. Nearly complete: After an investment of 30 Million Euro the building is falling in decay

It was to be East Germany’s largest, most modern sports complex: twelve years in planning, thirty million euros invested, all set to transform the site of the historic Most chocolate factory into a bustling hub for football, climbing, tennis, and leisure. 

A short term Gallery for sprayer instead of sports.

30 million Euros wasted

Twelve years of construction, a cost of 30 million euros – the "Sports Paradise" was supposed to be the largest and most modern sports facility in Eastern Germany. But even before completion, demolition began on the gigantic building, which was most recently used as a gallery by graffiti artists. Now a residential area is being built here.

Some things never been used

The concrete still smells almost fresh, and the wide staircases don't even have railings. Pigeons flutter through the endless halls of the Sports Paradise on Böllberger Weg in Halle. Rain drips through the roof onto the cement floor, and moss grows where it's both moist and sunny enough.

"Less is more" this writing said

A giant complex

When the excavators take a break, silence falls over the spacious halls that were supposed to house soccer and tennis courts, as well as climbing walls, squash courts, cafés and a beer garden, restrooms, offices, and rooms for rehabilitation sports.

One of a few giant halls

But the planned sports world exists only on paper – instead, silent witnesses to history stand here, unused and without monument protection.Thirteen years ago, Leipzig entrepreneur Holm Lischewski began construction of the mammoth facility. It was intended to be not only Saxony-Anhalt's largest indoor sports complex, but also the largest facility of its kind in the former GDR.

On the second floor are more rooms and halls

Once a chocolate plant

A Halle native and pharmacist by profession, the Lischewski was building on historic ground: At the end of the 19th century, Bernhard Most had established his "steam chocolate and honey cake factory" here at the junction of the Elisabeth Saale River. By 1935, the gingerbread baker already owned 165 shops throughout Germany – Halle was home to the country's largest chocolate empire.

Downstairs.

The success story came to an abrupt end during World War II.

Most was forced to switch to war-critical products; the factory was severely damaged in bombing raids and expropriated after the war. The family fled to the West, and the business was transferred to the VEB Confectionery Combine.

The break: The demolition begins. 30 Millions are going away in dust

A fall into dispair

Later, a subsidiary of the chemical Buna-Werke moved into the buildings, producing plastic wallpaper, pipes, gutters, and floor coverings. After reunification, the company was unable to survive – Most's imposing brick building fell into disrepair, becoming a ruin nestled between the city and the Saale River.

A bitter symphony, played by excavators

When Lischewski finally presented his "Böllberg Sports Center" project – 180 meters long, 65 meters wide, almost the size of two football fields – enthusiasm was initially muted. The development plan was approved after lengthy discussions, but the investor faced constraints: the protection of resident bats in the historic cellar vaults and the elaborate facade design delayed the start. When construction could finally begin, the global financial crisis struck.

Upstairs

A tragedy

It took five years to build the halls and close the roof – construction progressed only slowly. When the shell was finally finished, the project threatened to rival Berlin's airport in terms of construction time. Costs had since exploded from the originally estimated 10 million euros to at least 30 million euros. Shortly before the planned opening, the financing dried up. The bats were saved – but Lischewski's dream was over.

One of the nice paintings

The industrial wasteland was no longer considered a bothersome leftover area, but a desirable building site for inner-city housing. The end of the sports paradise came faster than its beginning: Ten years after the project began, excavators were working on demolition.

The Squash-Hall, never used

A short term Gallery

For a short time, graffiti artists used the impressive halls as a colorful gallery – a final flourishing before craftsmen removed the recently installed windows. The new investor initially planned to demolish only parts, but then decided on complete demolition. Today, the excavators are nibbling away at the outer walls of the "short-term gallery."

A Lost Place til today

The "Saalegarten" – a new residential district "in a prime location" – is to be built here. The 34 million Euro remains of the sports paradise will be processed into gravel and used as a substructure for new buildings full of apartments.

That was the plan five years ago. So far, nothing has happened.

"Bye you idiots", the writing said The Soccer hall View from outside "Courage to leave gaps" the sign said Billard hall Half the broke done This is the place now. 

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