Creative temporary use to revitalise town centres: Examined using the city of Frankfurt-Höchst as an example

People have been drawn to towns and urban areas for centuries. Whilst some towns are experiencing a massive influx of people and do indeed possess urban qualities, rural areas in particular are struggling with declining population figures and the resulting increasing desolation due to out-migration and rural depopulation. The situation is particularly precarious in the town centres of smaller municipalities. A high proportion of vacant buildings, hardly any life on the streets and, as a result, an economic slump at the expense of local retailers. Local authorities are striving to transform city centres into vibrant hubs and thereby positively influence the town's overall image. The issue at hand lies more in the potential consequence of vacant properties: the desolation of public spaces. In some German cities, including Berlin and Leipzig, among others, there has been a repeated focus in the past on the (creative) temporary use of vacant buildings. The city of Frankfurt has been exploring the creative temporary use of vacant shop premises in the Höchst district for several years.