Interviews and Project Findings:
Mülheim Town Centre

"The centre was earlier not so important like today, because the different parts of the city had their own market place or centre."


"Because of the big shopping malls, life has been taken out of the town centre. The traffic regulations are complicated and devoid of any logic. On the other hand, life has improved for young people who have a car because they can drive somewhere else, for example to the big shopping centres. It is a disadvantage if you haven't got a car of your own."


"A few years after the Second War Mülheim looked different from today. Most people were poor and had to work hard to earn some money. Because of the big destruction some families spent their life in little hovels. When you walked through the streets of Mülheim you could see many of these accommodations, but private houses were really rare. Already in those times the people kept things in order. For this the Germans are still well-known. Also shopping wasn´t as easy as today. There were enough little shops everywhere, but immediately after the war you could only buy something to eat with food ration cards. Every family got some of them in a certain value."