Bürgerhaus Koralle

Bürgerhaus Koralle (officially Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer) is a community cultural centre in the Hamburg district of Volksdorf, Germany. It grew out of a citizens' initiative after the closure of the long-standing Koralle cinema in December 1999. The cinema, which had operated since 1956, was a beloved fixture of Volksdorf's cultural life. When it closed, 10,321 residents signed a petition expressing their regret and calling for a new beginning. This led to the founding of the support association "Die Koralle – Stadtteilkultur in Volksdorf e.V." with the goal of creating a new cultural centre: the Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer. With the help of nearly 30 donors and around 1,000 individual contributors, the "Stiftung Koralle – Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer" was established at the end of 2000. This private-law foundation, funded almost entirely by private donations and foundation funds, was at the time considered "Germany's fastest foundation establishment." The former transformer house at Volksdorfer Markt, built in the 1920s to supply power to the Walddörfer railway (now U1), was converted into the cultural centre according to plans by Volksdorf architect Dieter J. Glienke. On 6 June 2002, Hamburg's mayor Ole von Beust officially inaugurated the Bürgerzentrum. Since then, the Stiftung Koralle has operated and managed the Bürgerhaus at the Volksdorfer weekly market. The building houses the Koralle Kino with three cinema screens (one with a stage), regularly showing award-winning programme cinema and hosting cultural events such as readings. It also contains the Koralle Bistro, which offers readings, exhibitions, brunch and dinner, and the Internetcafé Koralle for leisure surfing and PC training. All levels and facilities are barrier-free, with wheelchair spaces in the cinemas, accessible toilets on the ground floor, and free parking on the market square in front of the building. The centre is open to activities for young people, people with disabilities, seniors, and other citizens and groups. The Koralle Kino continues to operate as a programme cinema under the management of the Jansen cinema family, part of the Filmtheaterbetriebe Jansen group. In 2013, the projection technology was fully digitised, and in 2019 a third screen was added in the Koralle Lounge, which also includes a bar for private events with film screenings. The Bürgerhaus Koralle remains a vital cultural hub for Volksdorf and the surrounding Walddörfer area.

The history of Bürgerhaus Koralle begins with the Koralle cinema, which opened in 1956 and became a popular cultural venue in Volksdorf, a district on the northeastern edge of Hamburg. The cinema operated for over four decades until its closure at the end of December 1999. The closure provoked significant public dismay: 10,321 citizens of the Walddörfer signed a petition expressing their regret and calling for a new beginning. This grassroots movement led to the formation of the support association "Die Koralle – Stadtteilkultur in Volksdorf e.V." with the aim of creating a new cultural centre, the Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer. The association's efforts, supported by nearly 30 donors and around 1,000 individual contributors, resulted in the establishment of the "Stiftung Koralle – Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer" at the end of 2000. This private-law foundation, funded almost exclusively by private contributions, foundation funds and donations, was at the time regarded as "Germany's fastest foundation establishment." The foundation acquired and repurposed a former transformer house from the 1920s at Volksdorfer Markt, which had originally supplied traction current to the Walddörfer railway (now U1). The conversion was carried out according to plans by the local architect Dieter J. Glienke. On 6 June 2002, Hamburg's mayor Ole von Beust officially inaugurated the new Bürgerzentrum. Since then, the Stiftung Koralle has operated and administered the Bürgerhaus at the Volksdorfer weekly market. The building houses the Koralle Kino with three cinema auditoriums, one of which has a stage, and regularly presents award-winning programme cinema as well as cultural events such as readings. It also contains the Koralle Bistro, which hosts readings, exhibitions, brunch and dinner, and the Internetcafé Koralle for leisure surfing and PC training. All levels and facilities are barrier-free, with wheelchair spaces in the cinemas, accessible toilets on the ground floor, and free parking on the market square in front of the building. The centre is open to activities for young people, people with disabilities, seniors, and other citizens and groups. The Koralle Kino is operated by the Jansen cinema family, part of the Filmtheaterbetriebe Jansen group. In 2013, following the trend in the group's other cinemas, the projection technology was fully digitised to provide crystal-clear picture and sound. In 2019, a third screen was added in the Koralle Lounge, which also includes a bar for private celebrations with film screenings in a dignified theatre atmosphere. The Bürgerhaus Koralle remains a central cultural institution for Volksdorf and the surrounding Walddörfer area.

• 2019

  Opening of a third cinema screen in the Koralle Lounge.

• 2013

  Full digitisation of projection technology in the Koralle Kino.

• 2002

  Official inauguration of the Bürgerhaus Koralle on 6 June by Hamburg mayor Ole von Beust.

• 2000

  Establishment of the Stiftung Koralle – Bürgerhaus der Walddörfer at the end of the year.

• 1999

  Closure of the Koralle cinema in December; 10,321 citizens sign a petition for a new cultural centre.

• 1956

  Koralle cinema opens in Volksdorf.

A community-oriented cultural centre and programme cinema, run as a non-profit foundation, offering barrier-free access and a diverse cultural programme for the Volksdorf district.

• Koralle Kino

  Three-screen programme cinema, one with a stage, showing award-winning films and hosting cultural events.

• Koralle Bistro

  Bistro offering readings, exhibitions, brunch and dinner.

• Internetcafé Koralle

  Internet café for leisure surfing and PC training.

1. 1Aktuelles - Koralle Kinokorallekino.de
2. 2Geschichte & Philosophie - Koralle Kinokorallekino.de
3. 3Bürgerhaus Koralle - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Bürgerhaus Koralle - Wikidatawikidata.org