Finsterwalde „Revitalization of an Old Town Block“
An historic block periphery structure has been restored in the centre of Finsterwalde by redeveloping listed buildings and supplementing them by new ones. The results were favourably-priced apartments in a resident-friendly and high-quality environment.
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Context
Source: Büro Schweizer, Berlin
The historic town centre of Finsterwalde (pop. 18.900) is characterized by an urgent need of restoration, empty buildings and numerous derelict sites. The historic centre has been a dedicated development area since 1999 and is one of six Brandenburg state model projects for sustainable housing development. The model projects were selected by determining a so-called „sustainability index" (Nachhaltingkeitsindex - NAX) comparing the expense and effectiveness of required and planned measures as part of a wider “Cost/Benefit Analysis of Structural Engineering Measures for Sustainable Housing Development”. This meant that the funding was linked to measurable sustainability criteria.
Project description
Source: Büro Schweizer, Berlin
The inner city building block reconstructed in Finsterwalde combines urban development aspects with a consideration of architectural history. 16 two- and three-storey buildings featuring low energy standard roof finishes were constructed in keeping with the original uniform eaves level architecture, and two listed objects dating from around 1700 were redeveloped. All in all, 69 favourably-priced rented apartments and three business units were created. To enhance the residential qualities, typical inner city intrusions on a ground level were avoided by raising the ground floors or, respectively, designing the apartments in a maisonette style. The connection to the district heating supply and solar-powered water heating helped reduce operating costs.
In the block interior, the intensively landscaped residential courtyard created features tenant gardens as well as seating and playground areas along a sinuous Gabion-wall (wire baskets filled with natural stone) into which the side and store rooms were integrated. The parking spaces required for the apartments and business operations were installed in a nearby central parking facility so that the courtyard could be kept car-free. This way, a high-quality free space was created for the apartments, notwithstanding the inner city location and the very dense development required from an urban planning perspective.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
Since 1998 | Conception of the construction project |
1999 | Cost/benefit analysis carried out by “Wuppertal-Institut” and "gibbins european architects", calculation of a sustainability index (NAX) |
1999 | Acceptance as a pilot project in the “State Programme for Sustainable Housing Development” (Landesprogramm zum nachhaltigen Wohnungsbau) |
Since 1999 | Execution planning by the architects “Architektur- und Planungsbüro Schweizer”, Berlin |
2001 to 2002 | Realization of construction and redevelopment measures |
Aims
Source: Büro Schweizer, Berlin
- Sustainable housing construction as part of urban renewal
- Townscape maintenance and repair using existing infrastructures and buildings
- Core development by enhancing the old town's architectural and social structure
- Creation of inner city housing with high-quality free spaces and optimal density
- Promotion of new forms of cooperation between communities, clients, housing firms and planners
Types of measures
Source: Büro Schweizer, Berlin
- Elaboration of sustainability criteria for housing construction
- Employment of existing infrastructures and building stock
- Mixture of functions and housing types
- Ecological construction methods and domestic engineering
- Involvement of regional businesses
- Redevelopment of listed architecture
- Construction of favourably-priced rented apartments in a dense arrangement
- Green, landscaped residential courtyard with seating and playground areas, open spaces for individual use (tenant gardens), side rooms and storerooms
- Low energy architecture with district heating and solar-powered water heating
Awarded the 2001 Brandenburg Builder-Owner Prize and the 2002 German Builder-Owner Prize
Innovations
Source: Büro Schweizer, Berlin
The interior development measure created a housing environment that is very attractive in terms of quality, structural engineering and cost. A successful combination of stock renewal and requirements-driven new construction resulted in the creation of an harmoniously integrated inner city quarter that enhances the townscape. The sustainability index (NAX) underlying the state funding is an exemplary assessment tool for sustainable construction.
Sources
- Ministerium für Stadtentwicklung, Wohnen und Verkehr Brandenburg (Brandenburg MInistry of Urban Development, Housing and Transport) (2000): Nachhaltiger Wohnungsbau im Land Brandenburg (Sustainable Housing Development in Brandenburg State). Potsdam
- Ministerium für Stadtentwicklung, Wohnen und Verkehr Brandenburg (Brandenburg MInistry of Urban Development, Housing and Transport) (2000): MSWV Aktuell. Schwerpunktthema: Die Region Südwestbrandenburg (MSWV Now. Focus: South-West Brandenburg Region). MSWV Aktuell 1- 2000, quarterly magazine, n. p.
- n. auth. (2002): Modellvorhaben nachhaltiger Wohnungsbau (Model Project Sustainable Housing Development). In: Architects’ association „Architektenkammer Berlin“ (ed.): Architektur in Berlin (Architecture in Berlin). Yearbook (Jahrbuch) 2000, Berlin
- http://www.finsterwalde.de
Further information
- Elucidations concerning the sustainability index in: Ministerium für Stadtentwicklung, Wohnen und Verkehr Brandenburg (Brandenburg Ministry of Urban Development, Housing and Traffic) (2000): Nachhaltiger Wohnungsbau im Land Brandenburg (Sustainable Housing Development in Brandenburg State). Potsdam
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 03238 - town: Finsterwalde - street: Grabenstraße 5.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Lhp2KwqgUJx
Last update: 29.01.2018