Zinnwerke e.V.

For over 10 years, Wilhelmsburger Zinnwerke has established itself as a communal testing ground for future issues in the district, along the Kulturkanal, and beyond. The site brings together freelancers, companies, NGOs, artists, creative professionals, and projects and initiatives focused on the common good. The connection to the place, to the district, and the motivation to tackle social and ecological challenges together unites a wide variety of actors. The former industrial area around the machine house and the adjacent factory halls is not only a historical backdrop, but also symbolizes the transition from industrial to sustainable resource use. The current users have already been involved in a variety of innovative future concepts, ranging from the development of transdisciplinary learning formats in cooperation with local and national universities to weekly neighborhood initiatives such as urban gardening, bicycle self-help, and communal bread baking. In 2021, a low-tech biogas plant was installed on the Zinnwerke farm as part of a joint planning and construction project. The association thinks and acts in a circular manner. Instead of using energy-intensive materials, its projects break through industrial waste streams – using existing and discarded materials in innovative ways and prioritizing resource-efficient working practices in all its initiatives. Zinnwerke e.V. has already received several awards for its successful combination of social and ecological commitment in cooperation with universities, local companies, and the public, including the Holger Cassens Prize in 2021 and the Max Brauer Prize in 2023.