On Monday, the support association that emerged from the citizens' initiative "Kurfürstenbad bleibt!" submitted an application for interim use to the Office for Economic Development. "For cultural, social and participatory purposes", as Bergfeld says. Four years of vacancy are enough, says chairman Lilli Schliebitz. For at least two reasons. "Firstly, since 2019 there has been a council resolution that obliges the city to make its vacant buildings available for temporary use for social and cultural purposes," says Bergfeld. In addition, according to Schliebitz, the city's framework plan for the demolition and new construction of the baths is scheduled for summer 2022 at the earliest. The association intends to use the remaining time. Specifically, it has in mind to install a stage including a grandstand in the pool. "But it's improvised, not for a lot of money," says Bergfeld.

In the cultural field, the club is planning to cooperate with the Kunstkitsch association, which also includes the Godesberg singer-songwriter Cynthia Nickschas and her partner Malte Stabenau. "Above all, we want to offer the independent cultural scene and younger artists a venue for performances," explains Bergfeld. Both groups suffered particularly from the Corona crisis.

Since the town hall, which was closed due to the danger of collapse, is no longer being used as a place for public participation, with the construction of the new bath, Bergfeld wants to use the Kurfürstenbad for this purpose. "It's an ingenious place. If you develop a new concept in the old bath, people will come who would otherwise not participate in political decisions," Bergfeld believes.

The Godesbergers are using the "new bath" in Lucerne as a model. Since 2012, an association has been taking care of the "cultural and creative-economic interim use" of the former indoor pool, according to the homepage. It serves as an art and cultural centre. But how does the local association envisage the form of the lease agreement? "Of course we cannot pay a high rent, but would bear the additional costs," says Bergfeld. The question still remains as to whether the condition of the building allows it to be used at all. Bergfeld is cautiously optimistic: "According to our TÜV report, the roof is intact. He sent the April report to Victoria Appelbe at the business development agency, on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Schliebitz says: "If we want to become active this year, we need a municipal inspection of the Kurfürstenbad by the end of the summer holidays in 2020."

According to the city itself, it cannot do this. But, as press officer Isabel Klotz said: "A cultural use in an empty swimming pool is basically a good idea." Whether it could be used for that purpose in the short term, she said, needed to be checked. The last municipal expert opinion was from 2017, she said, "But so far, the operation of the pool has always been examined, not an alternative use that requires less technology," Klotz emphasised.

Among other things, the report stated that the entire building services system would have to be renewed, including the entire ventilation system, the heating system, the entire sanitary and electrical systems. The city did not want to say anything about a possible rent. However, as can be read on the homepage, associations receive special conditions. Operating and maintenance costs are borne by the tenant.

Original text: Silke Elbern

Translation: Mareike Graepel