What do prefabricated concrete garages have to do with contemporary art? More than you might think – Chemnitz, formerly Karl-Marx-Stadt, is demonstrating this impressively in the Capital of Culture year 2025. The city is turning its more than 30,000 old garages into a central symbol of creativity, art, and identity. What used to be a mere utility space for vehicles or tools is now being rethought as a stage for contemporary art projects, social experiments, and cultural encounters. The prefabricated concrete garage is becoming an urban laboratory – as an exhibition space, studio, meeting place, or memorial space. This is not just about art in the classic sense but about a new perspective on the value of the everyday – and about how space can be used in new ways in times of upheaval. Chemnitz shows that cultural radiance can also be developed from inconspicuous structures.
Hardly any other city has as many old garages as Chemnitz. Over 30,000 garages from the GDR era, many of which were built as simple sheet metal or prefabricated concrete garages, characterize the cityscape – not even counting later designs and modern prefabricated garages. This enormous density makes the city Germany’s garage metropolis. But instead of leaving them to decay, Karl-Marx-Stadt is now elevating them to a cultural venue.
Garages are being reinterpreted – no longer just as functional storage spaces, but as time capsules, places of expression, and sources of inspiration for contemporary art. In the Capital of Culture 2025, this often underestimated type of space serves as a stage for photography, installations, performances, and interactive projects. The reinterpretation of everyday infrastructure as a cultural space underlines how much social and creative potential there is in seemingly banal buildings. Chemnitz shows prefabricated concrete garages can also create identity and tell the city’s history.
The cultural program “#3000 Garages” of the Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 is dedicated to the artistic examination of the inconspicuous garage building – and thus gives it a new shine:
“Spare Parts Warehouse” by Martin Maleschka: The architect and photographer is showing everyday objects from GDR garages at the Museum of Saxon Vehicles until November 2025. “Members’ Assembly” by Maria Sturm: The photographer portrays 164 charismatic garage users – exhibited in 50 local stores from January to April 2025. “Garage collector” Christoph Busse: The artist documents garages from ten countries. He is now taking photographs in Karl-Marx-Stadt to make the special features of the local building forms visible. These projects are just an excerpt – you can find many more highlights on the special page of the Capital of Culture Chemnitz: https://chemnitz2025.de/3000-garagen-die-ausstellung/
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The campaigns in Chemnitz impressively demonstrate that prefabricated concrete garages are more than just storage space. They offer creative retreats – for artists, hobbyists, collectors or visionaries. Whether you turn your garage into a gallery, a studio or simply a thinking space – the possibilities are endless.
Inspiration for your own use:
Of course, regional regulations apply to the alternative use of garages. Before converting a garage, you should find out whether your project is permitted – especially in the case of noise, public traffic, or commercial use.
What the Capital of Culture Chemnitz shows can also inspire you. A prefabricated garage not only offers you protection for your car but also creative freedom. And we at ZAPF support you in this – with durable, modern prefabricated concrete garages that offer you maximum design freedom.
Whether it’s a workroom, gallery or studio: let’s realize your free space together.
With our garage configurator, you can easily and intuitively put together the size, fittings, doors, windows, and extras in just a few steps. We will then arrange a non-binding consultation with you, based on which you will receive an individual offer, naturally at a fair price and without any obligation to buy. Experience your configured garage in an impressive 3D visualization during the non-binding consultation appointment.
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