Bremen „House in the Neighbourhood“
The project includes "Wohnen mit Service, Wohnen in Nachbarschaft" (Living with serivce, living in the neighbourhood) for older people and common areas. The building of the former lost property office has been converted into a café and place for neighbourly encounters and volunteering.
This project has been put into the archive. The project details will not be updated anymore.
Context
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
The centrally located and densely populated urban district Steintor in Bremen (pop. 547,000) is characterised by contradictions. Many social layers live side by side. On one hand, the urban district offers many varied cultural institutions, such as cinemas, theatres and museums, as well as interesting shopping possibilities. On the other hand, public spaces are occupied by groups from the drugs scene with problems such as drug-related crime.
The "Haus im Viertel" was built in 1998 by the Bremer Heimstiftung (Bremen Home Foundation) in three sections on the site of an old bakery. The first section contains 57 residential units for "sheltered housing" for older people. The building's concept guarantees neighbourly encounters in common rooms and health care through a nursing office located in the building. A second section with 25 apartments was built in 2000 according to the same concept.
Project description
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
When the spatial possibilities for use of the "Haus im Viertel" for the district reached their limits, an expansion of the complex was planned and realised. Eleven more senior apartments, a shared apartment for dementia patients, a nursery and a community centre for the district were built in the third section.
The premises of the former lost property office were used for the community centre. As a multi-generational district meeting place, the 700 sq.m. site has a café as an open meeting place and several group rooms. The community rooms are used by self-help groups and initiatives from the urban district and by the Bremen Evening School. The Buddhist Centre and the district clubs are also located here.
With the completion of the old lost property office in 2007, the "Haus im Viertel" experienced a significant spatial and qualitative change. With the café, the neighbours gained a public meeting place. In order to guarantee the operation of the café, the inhabitants of the district around the "Haus im Viertel" formed a community association (Fundamt-Treffen e.V.). The 30 members runs the café, with lunch, on a voluntary basis. Jobs should be created here over the long-term.
The costs for redeveloping the former lost property office were financed by the Bremer Heimstiftung with support from the Stiftung Wohnliche Stadt. The running costs for the community centre in the former lost property office are largely financed by rent from the associations and institutions. The Fundamt-Treffen e.V. association has to make the incidental costs for the public café. The rental costs for the sheltered housing include a proportion for running costs of the community centre. In the long-term, the building will have to be self-financing.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
1992 | 1st section New building with 57 apartments for older people |
2000 | 2nd section Extended by 25 apartments |
2005 | Founding of the "Fundamt-Treffen e.V." association |
2006 | 3rd section Completion of the "Old Lost Property Office", occupancy by the VHS (Evening School) and the Buddhist Centre; occupancy by the Montessori nursery; eleven new apartments occupied |
2007 | Opening of the Cafeteria the Fundamt Treffen e. V. association's meeting place |
Aims
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
- Supporting the neighbourhood
- Self-organisation in the urban district
- Strengthening the public use
- Expansion of the range of services
- Expansion of the concept in respect of the multi-generational use
Types of measures
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
- Involvement of future user groups in the planning
- Development of a common principle
- New apartment building
- Conversion of the lost property office into the "Haus im Viertel"
Innovations
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
With the further development of the community centre, which was originally developed for older people, into a multi-generational meeting place, the multi-generational approach is implemented in an exemplary way.
As a result of the relocation by cooperation partners, a competence centre has been created for the urban district which reaches various interest groups and which provides "permeability" between the urban district and the community centre and housing project.
With the opening of the nursery, the building is enlivened and creates a spontaneous meeting of the generations.
The "Haus im Viertel" has become established as a permanent institution in the urban district. It is natural for the centre, with its varied interest groups, to assume responsibility for the neighbourhood. Self-help and mutual support are lived practice in the neighbourhood.
Sources
- Interview with Ms Schnell, manager of the "Haus im Viertel" and Ms Bügel, employed by the Bremer Heimstiftung, on 21 May 2007 in Bremen
- http://www.demographiekonkret.aktion2050.de/Bremen_Haus_im_Viertel.240.0.html
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 28203 - town: Bremen - street: Auf der Kuhlen 1b.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WEfgxRmDd2A2
Last update: 21.02.2018