Welcome to urbanana!

urbanana is a way of life. Creative people from all over come together in the city centres of North Rhine-Westphalia and shape them with their individual, modern and bold ideas. Leave the daily grind and embark on an expedition full of undiscovered paths away from the hype.

Like nowhere else in Germany, cities in North Rhine-Westphalia are merging into each other. From the Ruhr Area to Düsseldorf and Cologne, one urban center connects with the next. It’s not always clear where one city ends and the next begins. Whether via the motorway, by public transport or even by bike – the next city center is close by. No matter what direction you take, you’ll find eccentric characters, individual all-rounders and digital nomads. Viewed from above, the region resembles an urban banana: That’s urbanana!

But what is key to urbanana is its people, their creativity and the accompanying desire to try something new. Whether rooted here, a short city trip or a temporary home: In urbanana inspiration meets hospitality, everyone and everything is welcome.

Who and what is the Ruhr area? Names like Herbert Grönemeyer, Horst Schimanski and Nena quickly come to mind. And the region’s industrial heritage is at least as well known. The UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, the German Mining Museum and the Gasometer are landmarks of the region and simply play a part in history. Which at the same time continues to be written.

The industrial legacy has long since become the starting point for new ideas and multifaceted uses: By now people climb and swim in the blast furnaces of the Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord, enjoy incredible parties at the “Mischanlage” at Zeche Zollverein, and when it comes to public art the “Halden” are the place to be.

In better times, numerous festivals take place in and around the well-known landmarks – whether music, art or urban food. It’s no empty promise that the region stands for diversity. The music and theatre scene confirms this. Renowned theatres meet independent off-stages. The omnipresent art scene not only leaves its mark in museums like the “Hartware MedienKunstverein” in the Dortmunder U, but can also be experienced while walking through the streets. Particularly striking are post-war buildings that bring together Brutalism or Bauhaus and, as Big Beautiful Buildings, attract onlookers with their raw charm – regardless of whether they leave them excited or questioning.

53 cities combine the Ruhr Area, and each has its own corners to be discovered. Among them, for example, Gelsenkirchen, home to the urbanana-AReal . Urban art in the neighbourhood of Bochumer Straße has been digitally reinterpreted and with the help of smartphones and augmented reality can be experienced in a new way.

Kraftwerk’s pioneering work has paid off, because somewhere in Düsseldorf electronic music will always find a home. For example, in the “Salon des Amateurs“, right next to the “Kunsthalle“. Numerous international DJs and bands have already tested their latest sounds here. Found just a short walk away, the Ratinger Hof is considered a monument to rock culture, and that not only because of the Toten Hosen, who started off here and can be heard far beyond the city’s borders. “The Sound of Düsseldorf” is omnipresent and inspires all people no matter their preferred genre. No matter where you are: Art and music come together in Düsseldorf.

Every time you walk through the city, it’s worth watching out for an intermezzo with the local art scene.  Murals, window displays or architecture – those out and about during the day can trace icons on guided tours or strolls, marvel at contemporary architecture in the media harbour  or explore the underground. The Wehrhahn Linie, a regular underground line, impresses with six completely advertising-free stops designed by graduates of the Düsseldorf Art Academy.

You can take the tube or walk to the centrally located Japanese district around Immermannstrasse, also known as Little Tokyo. The area and its inhabitants let you immerse into authentic Japanese culture while you feast, browse and shop. And so it‘s easy imaging you are really in East Asia. In the streets of the trendy neighbourhoods of “Flingern” and “Oberbilk”, although only revealed at night, you can already feel the atmosphere of clinking glasses and good-humored conversations during the day.

Less than 20 minutes after getting on a train in Düsseldorf you can enjoy the view of Cologne’s much-photographed Rhine panorama. Behind this attractive facade creative people, media professionals and founders are shaping the flair of this megapolis, where start-up conferences sometimes take place in the Robot Sculpture Park. Locals and guests love the events that have taken place here and will take place again: Conventions on games, food, design and lifestyle – in the end, all get together.

At the latest, if you haven’t already made contacts during the day, you’ll be joining tables in breweries or pubs with people telling stories in the most entertaining way. Even before ordering, you will have found someone who knows everything about the city and its culture, which of course also – but not only – consists of carnival. There is plenty of time to chat as nightlife starts late. With the moon, outside of pandemic times, the doors of the clubs open. For example, at the remote shipyard on Cologne’s “wrong” meaning right side of the Rhine, the Bootshaus has attracted numerous clubbers from all over Europe and DJs from all over the world. People also love to get together in other Veedel (neighbourhoods in Kölsch) to dance under the Bahnbögen in Ehrenfeld, dine in the Südstadt or stroll  the Belgisches Viertel.

No matter where you end up: Every Veedel has people who help shape it and make it a great potpourri of art, culture, music and positive attitudes toward life. A walk through the streets of the city is worth it now and always, as a second glance often reveals hidden gems, such as the urban art works that brighten up numerous building facades in Ehrenfeld and Mülheim. During the day, Cologne reveals its immense architecture, which has been, among others, shaped by the Böhm family,  who designed the Central Mosque in Ehrenfeld. The Gerlingsquartier also leaves amateurs and connoisseurs impressed.

There is much more behind urbanana than only the famous landmarks. But even first impressions create inspiration. Switch to curiosity and discover urbanana at the Berlin Travel Festival: Episode 4 (12.03.2021) / 7 PM

Follow us on social media and check out our website to get to know our project:

www.urbanana.de

Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @goingurbanana

urbanana is a project of Tourismus NRW e.V. in cooperation with Düsseldorf Tourismus, KölnTourismus and Ruhr Tourismus. It is funded by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia and emphasises more on urban culture than sightseeing, backyards than high gloss and creative makers and shakers.