Duisburg-Homberg „Rheinpreußensiedlung“
The residents' association Rheinpreußensiedlung carried out the modernisation of the flats in occupied houses. The so-called "Social Construction Management" was a key element. This made it possible for elderly people in particular to stay in their flats during and after the building work.
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Context
Source: Weeber+Partner
The first of a total of 1,800 houses for miners and their families were built on company-owned grounds of the Rheinpreußen mine in Duisburg (pop. today approx. 504,000) starting in 1889. The Rheinpreußensiedlung today belongs to the urban district of Homberg. This urban district is characterised by industrial plants from the coal and petrochemical industry, and also crafts enterprises. Most of the houses in the Rheinpreußensiedlung are houses for four families. They have one full storey and an attic storey. An extension behind the house, which was used as a toilet and pigsty, is typical of the houses. A front and back garden belonged to every flat, which made it possible for the families to support themselves. Even today, the front gardens and courtyards characterise the image of the Rheinpreußensiedlung.
In the 1960s, the area-wide redevelopment of miners' settlements in the Ruhr area started. Many settlements were sold. Since then, around 1200 flats have been demolished in the Rheinpreußensiedlung and tower blocks with up to 20 storeys have been erected in their place. A further 200 flats are now private property.
The residents opposed the demolition. A citizens' initiative finally managed to save 411 flats from being demolished. In 1984, the Wohnungsgenossenschaft Rheinpreußensiedlung eG (Housing association Rheinpreußensiedlung eG) was founded. Up until then, this was the first instance of the foundation of a "residents' association" in Germany. Since that time, the residents have managed their flats themselves. Today, all households are members of the association.
The project was funded and evaluated between 1989 and 1992 as a model plan in the research project "Ältere Menschen und ihr Wohnquartier" (Elderly People and their Neighbourhood) in the federal research programme "Experimenteller Wohnungs- und Städtebau" (Experimental Residential and Urban Development) - ExWoSt.
Project description
Source: Weeber+Partner
When the association purchased the flats in 1985, they were in very bad condition. The former owner - the Rheinpreußen mine - had not invested in the houses in the previous 20 years.
The Rheinpreußensiedlung was a redevelopment area. The redevelopment was carried out from 1980 to 2000. The City of Duisburg commissioned the association to carry out the modernisation according to the redevelopment aims. The association started with no capital and had to develop a special financing concept for the modernisation. This included partial modernisations that did not have an effect on the rent, i.e. the flats were modernised without the bathrooms. The residents bought the bathroom equipment themselves. The modernisation measures were carried out while the tenants stayed in their flats so that no rents were lost. Furthermore, considerable personal contributions were made. In addition to this, there was so-called "work showing solidarity" for old, ill and disabled people.
Thanks to this economic modernisation, it was possible to keep the rents low. However, some problems and obstacles for elderly residents could not be solved from an architectural point of view because of the constructional situation. Thus, it was not possible to convert the houses for wheelchair access. The modernisation of the inhabited flats was a significant burden, in particular for the elderly. This is where the assistance had to step in. In order to make the situation during the modernisation easier for them, a system with a variety of practical support measures was developed. This "Social Construction Management" was implemented by two full-time employees and also committed elderly residents. Intensive counselling interviews were conducted, information was provided about upcoming work and customised solutions were sought together. Assistants helped move the furniture between rooms.
The members of the "Social Construction Management" made a significant contribution to the steering of the building process and worked closely with the architects. They coordinated the collaboration of architects, craftsmen and helpers. Their tasks also included giving advice on technical aids and possibilities of financing the adaptation measures for flats. This made it possible to improve the situation of elderly people in particular. Thanks to the financing concept and the intensive accompaniment, it was possible to modernise all flats and the elderly residents were able to stay in their flats.
The society Rheinpreußenhaus e.V. developed and expanded offers in the area of culture, leisure, education and social work. Actively helping oneself and the neighbours plays an important role in this. Third-party funds made it possible to employ staff to perform auxiliary services such as gardening work, clearing snow, cleaning, sweeping leaves for those residents who need assistance.
This integrated and community-oriented approach needs rooms that are available for meeting, exchange and counselling. By converting a former dairy, the meeting place Rheinpreußenhaus e.V. was created - a central contact and meeting point for the settlement's residents.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
1977 to 1980 | Preparatory inspections for the redevelopment |
1980 to 2000 | Redevelopment measures |
1981 | Foundation of the society Rheinpreußenhaus e.V. |
1981 | Conversion of a former dairy to a community house |
1985 | Foundation of the housing association Rheinpreußensiedlung eG by the residents |
1989 to 1992 | Model plan as part of the Experimental Residential and Urban Development, in the research project "Elderly People and their Neighbourhood" |
1987 to 1996 | Social Construction Management during the modernisation measures |
2001 | Award in the competition "Implementing sustainable urban development projects" in North Rhine-Westphalia |
2004 | The housing association Rheinpreußensiedlung eG implemented the following measures with the prize money: redevelopment of the community house, greenery on flat roofs, rainwater drainage ditches, canalisation |
Aims
Source: Weeber+Partner
- Supporting elderly people in living independently
- Living in one's familiar neighbourhood despite the modernisation measures
- Socially compatible modernisation
- Ensuring low rents
- Balancing provision shortages in the social and cultural area
- Offering customised support
- Qualified counselling and accompanying of the self-governing bodies and the full-time employees and volunteers involved
Types of measures
Source: Weeber+Partner
- Repair of buildings
- Adaptation and partial modernisation of flats
- Social Construction Management
- Deconstruction of streets, broad pavements, traffic calming
- Street lighting
- Redesign of the courtyards
- Outdoor lighting of the houses
- Community facilities for social and cultural events
- Establishing and linking professional and voluntary care and support offers
Innovations
The Rheinpreußensiedlung is characterised by a very low fluctuation rate to date. The social relations are stable and there are no vacancies. Since the model plan, a natural change of generations has taken place. The aim of a socially compatible and needs-oriented renovation of the settlement was successfully implemented. The Social Construction Management promoted the acceptance of the measures as a whole. The combination of the association and the society makes it possible to link up housing management, cultural activities and social support with a community-oriented and integrated approach. The inclusion of social work in the structure and the processes of a housing company was new and trendsetting at the time and has maintained its importance until today.
Social workers from several housing companies in NRW formed a working group to improve their work and to anchor it in the housing companies. This working group has grown and ideas are exchanged there on a regular basis. Concepts and financing possibilities are discussed and training is offered, which has become established as a fixed component of the further education offer of the federation of the housing industry.
Sources
- Gabriele Steffen, Dorothee Baumann, Antje Fritz: Attraktive Stadtquartiere für das Leben im Alter (Attractive urban neighbourhoods for life in old age). In: Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, Bauforschung für die Praxis (Building research for practical application), Volume 82, Stuttgart 2007
- Wohnungsgenossenschaft Rheinpreußensiedlung (1993): Leben im Alter in der Rheinpreußensiedlung (Living in the Rheinpreußensiedlung in old age). Reporting period 08.12.1989 – 30.12.1992.
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 47198 - town: Duisburg - street: Schlägelstraße 13.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/37ivcCDKjPv
Last update: 26.03.2018