DebConf15/Bids/Germany/Muenchen

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[edit] Introduction

Munich is located in south Bavaria, which is a region of Germany, which again lies in the middle of Europe:

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Germany within Europe
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Bavaria within Germany
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Munich within Bavaria
  • Inhabitants: ca. 1,350,000
  • Most people will be proficient with basic English; Munich sees a lot of tourists and is a vibrant city with many young people.
  • Streets and public transport are generally accessible. The public transport website allows trips to be planned by specifying accessibility by wheel-chair or pram as requirement.
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City Center
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Englischer Garten
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Biergarten

[edit] Getting there

Additional time to reach the venue (see below) from the main station is 5 minutes by tram (travel time, add 5-15 minutes for connecting times and ticket handling)

Munich can be easily reached by rail, road and air. In fact, next to New York City and Portland, it is probably among the best reachable proposed DebConf locations yet.

  • By Plane:
    • Munich airport (MUC) main Lufthansa/Star Alliance hub - around 40 km away
      • direct international connections include: New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, Tokio, Beijing, São Paulo and Delhi.
      • direct european connections include: London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Cairo, Athens, Lissabon, Marseille, Bruxelles, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Vienna, Budapest, Bukarest, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Sofia.
      • ca. 0:45 to Munich Hbf by S-Bahn (6/h) (ca. 10 EUR)
      • ca. 0:20 to Debconf venue by Taxi (ca. 50 EUR)
    • Memmingen Allgäu Airport/Munich West (FMM) local and budget airlines - around 120 km away
      • ca. 1:30 to Munich Hbf by Bus (1-5/d, synced with arriving flights) (17 EUR)
    • Salzbug airport (SZG) local and budget airlines - around 140 km away
      • ca. 2:20 to Munich Hbf by Bus/EC (2/h)
  • By Train:
    • Munich Hbf (main station)
      • direct ICE connections to all major cities in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt)
      • direct international connections including:
        • Austria (Salzburg, Innsbruck)
        • Italy (Verona, Florence, Milan, Rome (CNL)),
        • France (Paris, Strasbourg)
        • Switzerland (Zurich)
        • Czech Republic (Prague).
      • Notable one-stop connections including:
        • Vienna, via Salzburg
        • Bruxelles, via Cologne/Frankfurt
        • Amsterdam, via Cologne/Mannheim

(Hbf: main station, TGV/ICE: French/German high-speed trains, IC: InterCity, EC: EuroCity, CNL: CityNightLine, S-Bahn: Metropolitan Train)

[edit] Venue

The conference and accomodation are in two separate venues 900 metres apart from each other (10–15 minutes walk). They are both in the same part of town — Maxvorstadt — which is about 10 minutes by public transport from the main station, and 15 minutes from the city centre. The area is a vibrant student centre with plenty of shops and restaurants around.

[edit] Main Venue: Munich University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule München aka HM)

The conference would take place in the building of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

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Main Entrance
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Main Auditorium
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First Floor Corridor

The venue would be ideal for DebConf: walking distances within the building are small, yet there is enough space for 400 people at once without us trampling on each others' feet (think FOSDEM). We have applied for several large and medium-sized lecture halls (300, 180, and 2×100 fixed seats, no merging possible), as well as several normal classrooms with movable furniture to host 30–50 people, which are ideal for hacklabs, BoF-rooms, and other uses (incl. child care). The public area inside the building connecting all the rooms is very spacious. Tables and chairs can be placed into corners at will, and we'd actually be eating twice a day right in the middle of everything (events for 300+ people have been hosted there in the past). This wide, open, two-storey hall also serves as the main socialising area, in addition to a lawn outside for sunbathing and sports (until 22:00 o'clock).

Rooms for Local Team and Video Team have been selected already, as has the location for front desk. They are a few meters apart, but the team offices are outside of "public" walking paths.

Blueprints are available upon request. The room application has been submitted, which means that we'll be limited by our choices once accepted (not flexible). However, we applied for a lot more space than needed.

All rooms are equipped with wired networking and with audio/video equipment (wireless microphones, microphone clips, speakers, projectores), which we could use. There's a good chance that power can be obtained from the tables, else we'll have to figure out cabling beforehand.

Currently, we are still negotiating with the university, which has been a slow process, in part because we relied on the wrong people. However, the computer science department backs the application and building management gave green light. With reference to the DebConf11 application and the approving dean of studies at the time, we are now in discussions with the chancellor about cost coverage.

Normal opening hours are 6:30 to 20:00, which we can extend to 01:00 at night, and even later for special events, if necessary. We will most likely have to pay for security ourselves as the house rules mandate security to be present as long as the doors are unlocked. This would be a small cost, given that otherwise we expect not to have to pay for use of the venue as a whole.

There will be no substantial limitations on what we can do inside the venue. However, we must clear the outside areas after 22:00 o'clock. Socialising could then continue at a nearby bar, or at the youth hostel. Hacking after closing would continue in the youth hostel.

The venue is fully-accessible (required by law). Attendees with wheel-chairs will have to locate themselves in the front of the lecture halls.

There exists an underground car park which team and people with disabilities/families can use. Status for other participants is unclear as you need a dedicated card to open the gate, but there's plenty of public transport "park and ride" offers in and around Munich.

[edit] Network

Network service for HM is supplied by Leibniz Rechenzentrum (LRZ); LRZ in turn, is part of the German National Research and Education Network (Deutsche Forschungsnetz aka DFN). As of late 2013, they are connected via one single 10G line; by the middle of 2014, they plan to have 2 * 10G over redundant entry points and metro paths.

Most if not all relevant network services are provided to HM by LRZ.

We can host hardware on site in a dedicated server room managed by the students of HM; we will have a key to said room for the relevant time frame.

Network cabling (Cat6 and fiber) is on site.

There is full Wi-Fi coverage in the building; in the unlikely event that we would detect coverage issues during 2014, LRZ can install APs to cover them in time for DC15 as part of their normal roll-outs.

LRZ can add our ESSID & password to their infrastructure and hand the network over to us cleanly (L2 or L3).

LRZ has enough IPv4 resources to assign a subnet large enough; IPv6 is a given.

We can install our own equipment if needed, but other than a few small switches within some rooms, nothing will be needed. This can not be done before DebCamp, but as this infrastructure would only be relevant for the video team, we can do that in parallel. DebCamp will have proper Internet from day one.

[edit] Special rooms

  • Server room
    • space for ~4-6 racks, two in there
    • Will have aircon in 2014
    • Electrical load unknown, but surely enough
  • Video room
    • One of the 30–50 people rooms
    • Electrical load should be enough, but unkonwn
  • Team room
    • Also one of the class rooms, so enough space for storage etc.

[edit] Accomodation: Haus International (a youth hostel)

We would sleep in a modern youth hostel that can host 600 people in 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 bed rooms. In preliminary negotiations, we have made it clear that we'd want to fill the smaller rooms first (leaving only few for other guests) and that we'd occupy whole wings, so sleeping arrangements should be quite comfortable and separate from all the other guests.

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Front view
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Lobby
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8 person room
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2 person room
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Restaurant
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Garden
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Sport/Leisure
  • 400 people can easily be accomodated.
  • There are several hotels within walking distance, too.
  • The registration desk people speak English and can assist us in passing out keys to attendees, or we just pass them out at the conference venue.
  • A number of rooms are accessible via an elevator from the outside of the building. The hostel is prepared for that.

[edit] Prices

  • Without negotiating special group prices, these are the prices quoted for 2014 (!):
    • 12 1-bedrooms with shared bathrooms (36 €)
    • 12 2-bedrooms with shared bathrooms (29 €)
    • 10 1-bedrooms ensuite (50 €)
    • 25 2-bedrooms ensuite (39 €)
    • 7 3-bedrooms ensuite (30 €)
    • 61 4-bedrooms ensuite (28 €)
    • 28 6-bedrooms ensuite (26 €)
    • 4 special rooms (1-2 people, double bed, price fixed 65 €)·
  • Average price across all 1–4 bedrooms (only 45 4-bedrooms, incl. special rooms, 301 people): 31,59 €/p, not at all negotiated, so about 9.500 €/day (only breakfast)
  • The hostel is VAT-exempt, i.e. the prices are net == gross.
  • The hostel has about 600 beds. We can probably negotiate a minimum to lock a better price.

[edit] Network

The youth hostel has their own WLAN with a 10/100 cable link, which we could use. We have made no investigations towards installing our own equipment, but we are working on having the uplink upgraded to fibre for the duration of the conference.

[edit] Conference catering

We will work with an external caterer so we can make sure they provide vegetarian / vegan / lactose-intolerant / gluten-sensitive / religious food. Repetitions on the menu won't happen for omnivores and are unlikely for herbivores.

As the food will be served via an open (limited) buffet, people can pick and mix as they please.

Cost of the food will be shared among all attendees so, e.g. vegans don't have to pay extra. We're currently looking at offers around 12€/day/person.

[edit] Bistro, bar

There's a bistro on site, but it's more of a over-the-counter cafeteria suitable for universities. We could, however, install a bar in a niche in the main hall, which has been done before. We would then have it entirely under our own control and could serve whatever and how late we want.

[edit] Shops & restaurants

All computer parts needs etc. can be satisfied in close proximity. The area around Schillerstraße right by the main station is the one-stop computer-related shopping district in Munich. An (overpriced) Conrad shop is reachable by tram 20/21 from the venue in about 20 minutes.

There are several convenience stores nearby, including healthy, ethnic, and ecological ones:

Name Kind Street Distance Public transport Nearest stop
Tengelmann supermarket Dachauer Straße 200m tram 20/21/22 Hochschule München (Lothstraße)
Lidl supermarket Dachauer Straße 92 600m tram 20/21/22 Sandstraße
Penny supermarket Sandstraße 37 800m tram 20/21/22 Sandtraße
Edeka supermarket Dachauer Straße 63 900m tram 20/21/22 Sandtraße
Tengelmann supermarket Görresstraße 29 700m bus 154 Görressstraße
VollCorner Biomarkt health-food shop Augustenstraße 55 1 km subway U2 / tram 20/21/22 / bus 100 Theresienstraße / Sandtraße / Technische Universität
Bollywood Store Arora indian food store Augustenstraße 88 850m subway U2 Theresienstraße
Tengelmann supermarket Leonrodplatz 1 900m tram 12,20,21 / bus 53 Lenrodplatz
DM-Drogerie Markt drugs store Dachauer Straße 92 600m subway U2 / tram 20/21/22 / bus 100 Theresienstraße / Sandtraße / Technische Universität
Rossmann drugs store Leonrodplatz 1 900m tram 12,20,21 / bus 53 Lenrodplatz
Hibiskus Naturkosmetik beauty center Gabelsbergerstrße 71 1km subway U2 / tram 20/21/22 / bus 100 Theresienstraße / Sandtraße / Technische Universität
REWE supermarket Nymphenburger Straße 75 1km subway U1,U7 Mailingerstraße
Cesar Markt deli Blutenburgerstraße 54 1,2km subway U1,U7 Mailingerstraße
Basic Bio-Laden health-food Nymphenburger Straße 82 1,3km subway U1,U7 Mailingerstraße

A wide range of fast food and proper restaurants are located nearby:

Name Kind Street Distance Public transport Nearest stop
iMango asian snack Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Spring Time turkish snack Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Chili Asia asian snack Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Patatez backed-potatoe snack Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Bulli's Pizza pizzeria Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Main Stream bavarian food Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Toskana restaurant Dachauer Straße tram 20,21,22 Lothstraße
Eat The Rich restaurant Heßstraße 90 450m tram 20,21,22 / subway U2 Hochschule München (Lothstraße) / Theresienstraße
The Martini Club restaurant / bar Theresienstraße 93 600m tram 20,21,22 / subway U2 Sandstraße / Theresienstraße
Eclipse Grillbar israeli restaurant Heßstraße 51 650m tram 20,21,22 / subway U2 Sandstraße / Theresienstraße
Plaa Uan thai restaurant Theresienstraße 134 800m subway U2 Theresienstraße

[edit] Nearby Hotels / camping

Name Category Walking distance
Hotel Montree 3* 450m
Hotel Vitalis 3* 850m (right next to hostel)
Hotel Europa 4* 400m
Hotel Erzgießerei 4* 450m

There are no (official) campings grounds nearby.

[edit] Fun and Free time

Munich has plenty to offer at any time:

Munich is better known for its high culture (opera, [theatre, classical concerts, jazz) than its sub-culture (where Berlin and Hamburg certainly shine more), but you will be able to find interesting concerts at nearly every day of the week for whatever musical style you like.

For nightlife, several bar/club-centers exist, including the Kultfabrik, Optimolwerke, Feierwerk and Backstage. Several clubs have recently opened up or moved into the inner city. In the south of Munich, you will find the world's largest disco/party area with dozens of clubs from Techno to Heavy Metal to pop, and everything in between.

[edit] Day Trip Proposals

[edit] Isar raft ride

That would be quite the party (including the faint-hearted, it's not dangerous despite what it looks like), but it's not wheel-chair accessible and requires swimming abilities. Plus, it's quite expensive. But see for yourself, basically you sit on a huge raft with music and food and beer and float down a gorgeous river: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9-gN3MS22M.

[edit] Neuschwanstein Castle (plus mountains around)

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Neuschwanstein Castle
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Castle Interior
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Surrounding Mountains
  • http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
  • "Neuschwanstein Castle can only be visited within a guided tour. We offer guided tours in German and English by our own personnel. Visitors who do not speak one of these languages can make use of our audio guide tours, which are available in Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Slovenian, Russian, Polish, Chinese (Mandarin), Portuguese and Hungarian."
  • Accessibility information:
    • During the regular tour you will have to climb 169 steps and descend 204.
    • Near the castle there is a toilet for the disabled.

[edit] Andechs and Dießen

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Andechs Abbey
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Andechs Brewery
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Abbey Biergarten

[edit] Dachau - Concentration Camp Memorial

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Concentration Camp Entrance
  • http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/english.html
  • Accessibility information: The Memorial Site is accessible to people with disabilities and is equipped with accessible restrooms. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the museum staff. Please note however that much of the grounds are unpaved and access for wheelchairs may be difficult. There are also some buildings that do not have a wheelchair entrance.

[edit] Herrenchiemsee Palace

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Herrenchiemsee Palace
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State Staircase
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Hall of Mirrors
  • http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/n_palace/index.htm
  • Accessibility information: "Paths to the various buildings are sign-posted. The buildings are accessible for wheelchairs. Toilets are available in the visitor centre, the Schlosshotel, the Museum in the Augustinian Monastery and the Royal Palace. In the Museum in the Augustinian Monastery and the Royal Palace there are lifts."

[edit] Zugspitze

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Zugspitze
  • ~2960m - Germany's highest mountain

[edit] Hochseilgarten

[edit] Timing

The CS department of the university wants to pitch DebConf15 as an internal event, which would be the only way to get free access to the venue (it would be too expensive to rent). Therefore, the preliminary agreement is to organise DebConf right after the summer semester exams at the beginning of the break period, and to invite students to attend. This might have an impact on the scheduling of DebConf/DebCamp, which we're confident to be able to address once the details are known.

Our current plan is to host DebCamp entirely at the youth hostel during the last week of July, then to stage the conference at the university from 2013-08-01 through 2013-08-08.

The youth hostel is accepting booking for the summer of 2015. We can negotiate a tentative booking for a few weeks as soon as we have a decision.

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.debconf.org/wiki?title=DebConf15/Bids/Germany/Muenchen&oldid=33183"
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