marknorton Posted September 12, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Last Sunday saw me drive from the Nürburgring to Leipzig, a journey which takes you close to Wetzlar so I thought I would stop by Leitz Park to take a look at progress. Oh dear. The architect's concept board is still there, three buildings for Via Optik, Uwe Weller Feinwerktechnik and Leica with a landscaped area in front, a small lake, trees, places to sit to contemplate that new lens design, even the silhouette of a couple engaged in conversation, probably, on the quality control problems of filling lens engravings. That's the concept then. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Well, the Via Optik and Uwe Weller buildings are there, no sign of any work for the Leica building yet. Apologies for the lamp post blocking the view but if I zoom back, you'll see the reality does not yet meet the concept. Instead of the nicely landscaped area, there's this... And in a helpful gesture, the road sign in this last picture reminds motorists that German road regulations still apply if you wanted to drive over that lot. All in all, a rather depressing place on this grey September day and not the sort of environment to get the creative juices flowing... Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Well, the Via Optik and Uwe Weller buildings are there, no sign of any work for the Leica building yet. Apologies for the lamp post blocking the view but if I zoom back, you'll see the reality does not yet meet the concept. Instead of the nicely landscaped area, there's this... And in a helpful gesture, the road sign in this last picture reminds motorists that German road regulations still apply if you wanted to drive over that lot. All in all, a rather depressing place on this grey September day and not the sort of environment to get the creative juices flowing... ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/161664-leitz-park-not-ready-for-prime-time/?do=findComment&comment=1791421'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 Hi marknorton, Take a look here Leitz Park - Not Ready for Prime Time. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted September 12, 2011 Share #2 Posted September 12, 2011 All rather depressing, Mark. Thank you for the update. I wonder what Leica has to say about the situation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 12, 2011 Share #3 Posted September 12, 2011 I'm just glad that their architect doesn't design cameras. Unless, of course... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted September 12, 2011 Share #4 Posted September 12, 2011 I'm just glad that their architect doesn't design cameras. Unless, of course... I'm wondering if the same architect and landscaper did this hotel that I stayed at in Geneva. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/161664-leitz-park-not-ready-for-prime-time/?do=findComment&comment=1791470'>More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted September 12, 2011 Share #5 Posted September 12, 2011 Not to worry! Think of how many threads can be generated from this already. People will see moire in shots of the window blinds. We may even see reports that one or two windows are cracked! paint will probably be messy in spots on the road markings, 15 professional drivers will post across the web demanding compensation and personal apologies after driving into the weeds off the bitumen and of course Nikon/Canon would have been able to build a park 100 times the size and made entirely from lego blocks, ps I'm pretty sure that they will mow the lawn before they open. There isn't even a building for them yet! pps forgot to say there is a distinct magenta tone in the photos of the bitumen!. They should recall that road immediately. Outrageous that a luxury brand would let such a problem slip through un-noticed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted September 12, 2011 Having said that, if you look at the buildings in the Architectural images, the two completed buildings are faithful to the original design (except that the Leica building isn't there yet). Landscaping tends to come last. No point in putting in the nice touches if the builders are going to mess it all up. Have faith (no, I'm not spinning this) - it seems that the move to Wetzlar is still happening, so presumably the third building will go up sometime and the nice touches (including the couple in silhouette) will be added. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted September 12, 2011 Share #7 Posted September 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Aren't industrial parks built in stages? OK, there's no sign of the Leica building. So what? Do we have an original schedule? Is the building behind time? Or is it possibly right on schedule? Mark, I'm glad you posted an update on the location. Looks to me as if things are progressing. And judging from the threads on Leica getting behind in camera and lens production, I for one would prefer to see development funds go to that aspect of the business for the moment, instead of a planned new home! OTOH, just think of all the threads we'll have during and after the switchover, claiming that the Solms plant did a better job than the Wetzlar facility. BTW--Have you noticed the shadows in the design billboard? They're in several different directions, and of different lengths (see the ghost pedestrians). Looks as if the planning firm is subtly telling us when to expect the various buildings. Or maybe they're just unsure what the sun is like in central Germany? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 12, 2011 It is what happens inside. Get over it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted September 13, 2011 Share #9 Posted September 13, 2011 I wonder if they've gone back to the architect to ask him to enlarge the factory spaces? It does seem that they're selling more cameras and lenses than they thought they would back when the building was designed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted September 13, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 13, 2011 And judging from the threads on Leica getting behind in camera and lens production, I for one would prefer to see development funds go to that aspect of the business for the moment, instead of a planned new home! Howard, it seems that new home is necessary for new production processes and a larger scale of production. They plan to be operating in Leitz Park in 2013, so they have one year and a half or two years for building from the ground up and finish a large production plant, including machinery and auxiliary facilities, with a museum, shop and gallery... I don't know the exact schedule but they should be starting soon. There are new economic problems in Europe though, and a new perspective of global economic recession or stagnation. Only Leica knows the state of the development process of new products, and the planned production schedule for them (M10, the new EVIL camera, a revised S2 camera... whatever). All this information (that we don't have) might explain a change in the former plan of 2013. It may occur. Several people in this forum has a more or less direct connection with Leica representatives, so they might ask them. The last claims from Leica I have read (the Luminous Landscape report, perhaps), if I remember well, insisted in the 2013 target date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted September 13, 2011 Share #11 Posted September 13, 2011 There are plans in progress to move to a new purpose built 25,000 square meter facility back in Wetzlar in 2013. The architects' drawings look impressive – the proposed factory complex is considerably bigger and is topped off by what looks like 35mm film spooling around the upper floor making the building look very modern and stylish. There will be a gallery, show room and a bigger factory floor capable of doubling the current production capacity, but in the meantime the Solms factory is pretty much 'maxed out'.` A Leica Factory Visit . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted September 13, 2011 Share #12 Posted September 13, 2011 I don't get it. Clearly, they are not done building the facility. Why would you expect it to look nice? I would not expect them to landscape anything before the physical structure is substantially complete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted September 13, 2011 Well, call me shallow, but if I was a prospective customer of either Via Optic or Uwe Weller and I turned up to discuss placing business with them, I would be turned off by their scruffy environment. Currently, there is no building work going on at all and even though the site is not complete, I would have expected better. As someone who knows Germany well and has done business there over many years, this is very untypical. Most German companies take pride in their facilities. Visit Mercedes-Benz or BMW or Porsche or Robert Bosch and their plants are immaculate. At the other end of the scale, I visited the watchmakers A Lange & Sohne in Glashuette. Just exquisite and a pity I can't afford one of their masterpieces. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 13, 2011 Share #14 Posted September 13, 2011 I'm sure when it's finished it will look just fine. Having visited a number of similar organisations over the years in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, I'd have to say that the approach is variable. Some are scruffy (Italy) and some very stylish (Germany). But all over the world, half complete developments tend to look pretty ordinary - especially when they're built by the ultimate owners. When they're built by property developers, they go for the Bling first. (I should add that I specialize in construction, so I have visited a lot of sites the world over). It is, perhaps, a little more worrying that there is no work underway. I would suspect that is a programming issue - you can build a lot in 2 years, so they may not be starting for a while yet. I may well be completely wrong, but I generally prefer to give people enough rope to hang themselves - it's early days yet. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 13, 2011 Share #15 Posted September 13, 2011 I can understand the points made by the apologists. But you cannot escape the visual fact that the site looks as if it has been abandoned. If there was a genuine reason for the delay (for all three developments), it would not be unreasonable for the Architect's Site Plan, or similar by the developer, to carry a clear announcement of that revision. Also, it would be quite reasonable for the development site to be placed under 'Care and Maintenance' rather than allow a deteriorating image suggesting that it is 'a lost cause'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted September 13, 2011 Share #16 Posted September 13, 2011 I resent being called an 'apologist'. At least it is better than 'fanboy' I suppose Mark referred to his recent disappointment on poor quality paint lettering on one lens and that the unfinished park was not landscaped yet. I took that to be a little light hearted. My reply was meant to be in kind and poke a little fun at some of the negative posts we see from time to time. I can't take these comments seriously about the architects sign not reflecting what is there yet! We were told before that the development had been delayed and recently I think that it was now due to open in 2013? Leica Camera obviously aren't trading from that new site yet but I understand that they expanded the showroom/gallery at their current site which is where their customers walk in the door right now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted September 13, 2011 Share #17 Posted September 13, 2011 I still don't get it. Though, it seems there are very differing viewpoints on this subject depending on whether you're European or American. In the U.S., there is not much of an expectation that a company pretty-up its construction sites; the end result is what matters. If I were a shareholder or customer, I'd want my dollars (or euros or whatever) spent elsewhere. Anyway, being an enthusiast of nicely made things, it is apparent to me that many of the best quality products come from shabby environs. And by no means would I call the current state of Leitz park 'shabby'. It just looks unfinished. Now, maybe the progress (or lack thereof) in completing the facility says something about the health or agenda of the company, but those are totally seperate matters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Holy Moly Posted September 13, 2011 Share #18 Posted September 13, 2011 The rough could be the test area for the new macro lenses...? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 13, 2011 Share #19 Posted September 13, 2011 I can understand the points made by the apologists. But you cannot escape the visual fact that the site looks as if it has been abandoned. If there was a genuine reason for the delay (for all three developments), it would not be unreasonable for the Architect's Site Plan, or similar by the developer, to carry a clear announcement of that revision. Also, it would be quite reasonable for the development site to be placed under 'Care and Maintenance' rather than allow a deteriorating image suggesting that it is 'a lost cause'. Apologists? Pffft! I would be astonished if Leica or their architects bothered updating their sign. Do we know if there's a developer? or does Leica own the site, and employ its builders directly? If they've entered into a development lease, the developer will have no interest at all in updating signs and the like. Why would they? They've got a tenant. If Leica owns the site, they are also unlikely to employ an artist or PR consultant to keep a noticeboard up to date. They are reluctant to tell us about the next camera, and that's their core business. Geoff reminded us of the shocking paint error (really!), and I see the concern over the state of their future site in a similar vein. Chill! I appreciate it dents your limitless faith in Leica, but it it ain't a big deal. If they go ahead with their move to the new site, I'm sure they will pretty it up for you. If they don't move, they've changed their minds and come up with another space solution. Neither option will make the slightest difference to my camera and my lenses or the quality of service I get, so I don't really give a toss. If my next lens has a paint smudge, I would probably get it fixed, at a time that suited me. Fanboy? Apologist? It seems to me that if the state of their premises (2 years out from a planned move) causes you concern, you need to have a wee lie down. I'm just being realistic - it's a real world out there with real people who make mistakes. The problem arises when the hype gets taken seriously. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted September 13, 2011 Share #20 Posted September 13, 2011 But you cannot escape the visual fact that the site looks as if it has been abandoned. Plans for the Leica buildings are supposed to be finalized in autumn with construction work starting shortly after. The buildings should be finished in 2012 so Leica can relocate to the new premises in spring 2013. As usual, landscape architecture will come last, or at least I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. So what do people expect so see there right now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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