German contest to live in depopulated Soviet-era city proves global hit
Eisenhüttenstadt offered spacious central flats rent-free for two weeks in effort to attract valuable professionalsAn innovative contest by a city in formerly communist east Germany to curb depopulation by offering a fortnight of free housing has stunned local officials with its success.The...
<p>Eisenhüttenstadt offered spacious central flats rent-free for two weeks in effort to attract valuable professionals</p><p>An innovative contest by a city in formerly communist east Germany to curb depopulation by offering a fortnight of free housing has stunned local officials with its success.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/09/a-free-flat-for-a-fortnight-the-german-city-offering-perks-to-fight-depopulation">The competition drew more than 1,700 applications from around the world to try living in Eisenhüttenstadt</a>, a Soviet-style planned city on the Polish border, near Berlin, that was built around a steel plant in the aftermath of the second world war.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/21/german-contest-to-live-in-depopulated-soviet-era-city-proves-global-hit">Continue reading...</a>
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