Hamburg-Osterbrookviertel „Elbschloss an der Bille“
A building society declares its support for an urban neighbourhood and leaves its office so that a home for multiple generations can be built. In this way, not only existing local social offers find a new address. A new community house and a newly designed neighbourhood square generate a new community spirit in a disadvantaged urban district characterised by a lack of local basic services and opportunities to meet.
Context
Source: Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG
"Osterbrookviertel”, a residential area, is situated on the waterfront of the River Bille in the district of Hamm in the east of the centre of Hamburg. Local buildings were mostly constructed in the 50s to 70s. Despite the proximity and a direct bus link to the city centre, the neighbourhood territory is separated by a commercial area from the rest of the city area. In total, basic services and social and cultural infrastructure are insufficient.
„Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG (BGFG)“, a building society, with 800 dwellings is the largest owner of dwellings in "Osterbrookviertel” and is strongly committed to the area. With its foundation “Elisabeth-Kleber-Stiftung“, the BGFS funds a number of social offers and improvement of open spaces in "Osterbrookviertel”.
In 2008, the borough of Hamburg-Mitte applied for the area to be funded under the active urban district development programme (“Aktiven Stadtteilentwicklung”) of the City of Hamburg, today known as integrated urban district development framework programme (“Rahmenprogramm Integrierte Stadtteilentwicklung”). The programme supports those urban areas less and little demanded as places of residence by many inhabitants owing to their bad condition, their bad infrastructure and social conflicts.
Project description
Source: Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG
The neighbourhood centre „Elbschloss an der Bille“ was established by the BGFG in the altered rooms of its former administrative building in „Osterbrookviertel”. Thus, a place for multiple generations to meet, to communicate, for advisory services and education was created in the centre of the undersupplied area. The concept for the neighbourhood centre includes the following elements:
- a neighbourhood café as a meeting point for multiple generations i.a. with a lunch table for senior citizens, parents and children,
- combining the multigenerational neighbourhood services of the BGFG with sheltered forms of accomodation for teenage mothers and mentally ill mothers of the foundation “Alida Schmidt-Stiftung“ and with the services of „Kita Osterbrook“, a day nursery,
- integrating welfare services for elderly people, young peole, families and migrants and educational offers.
The project is based on an innovative provider and utilization concept for existing and new, limited and open tenders of different providers. Hospital and ambulant care as well as advice are combined with open social offers for all generations. The concept forms an essential part of the project and is to ensure economic viability.
Outside the opening hours of the day nursery, the “garden of senses” of the „Elbschloss an der Bille“ neighbourhood centre is available to the neighbourhood. With joint planting and harvesting activities, it has become a popular community project. Between the buildings of the neighbourhood centre and the opposite playground, an abandoned turning circle was turned into „Osterbrookplatz“, the neighbourhood square. Together with „Elbschloss an der Bille“, it forms the new centre of " Osterbrookviertel“ inviting people to stay and meet. Main entrance and the open meeting point of „Elbschloss an der Bille“ are oriented towards the new square.
Financing
The basic financing of the alterations was ensured by the BGFG. The neighbourhood centre’s own share in the alteration costs was 40%. Apart from grants of 430,000 euros from the national Experimental Housing and Urban Development programme, investments by the responsible local authority were used to refurbish the building parts designed for the group home. Another part of the refurbishment activities was financed with urban development funds.
The community areas are financed by the BGFG. It provides cooperation partners within the neighbourhood centre and other partners with time quotas for their offers.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
2006 | Project started |
2008 | Building society moves out, building converted |
2009 | Neighbourhood centre „Elbschloss an der Bille“ opened |
2011 | Neighbourhood square newly designed in the course of neighbourhood development |
2012 | “Osterbrookplatz“ (neighbourhood square) opened |
Aims
Source: Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG, Urheber: bloomimages
- To improve the quality of life by providing socio-cultural infrastucture in the neighbourhood
- To create a new centre for everyone to meet
- To make providers network and cooperate for the neighbourhood
- To actively involve residents by offering opportunities to participate and major honoray offices
Types of measures
Source: Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG
- Study of the milieu carried out by interviewing residents
- Office building converted into open neighbourhood centre
- "Elbschlossgarten" park developed for public use
- Central square developed
- Users already activated in the planning phase, i.a. “Streetlife” youth project, run by external project manager, launched
- Permanent working structures established: coordination round of providers, organisation team of active residents and neighbourhood advisory council established in the context of the neighbourhood developmentNeighbourhood Internet platform created
Innovations
Source: Baugenossenschaft freier Gewerkschafter eG
With its initiative to establish a neighbourhood centre, the building society assumed high responsibility for developing an underdeveloped urban neighbourhood. It also motivated different stakeholders to commit themselves in various ways for their area. Based on intensive cooperation within the neighbourhood, this project development approach also helped to realise the multigenerational approach. As stakeholders and residents are involved at an early stage, the neighbourhood offers a variety of dynamic infrastructure and services geared towards the needs of the local residents.
Sources
- BBSR website concerning the ExWoSt field of research „Innovationen für familien- und altengerechte Stadtquartiere“ (Innovations for urban areas suitable for families and elderly people) (in German), http://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/Veroeffentlichungen/ExWoSt/32/exwost32.html?nn=422618
- BMVBS / BBSR (ed.): Urban neighbourhoods for young and old - a challenge for the future. Results of the ExWoSt field of research "Innovationen für familien- und altengerechte Stadtquartiere" (Innovations for urban areas suitable for families and elderly people). Werkstatt: Praxis Issue 71, Bonn 2011 (Abstract in English, long version in German), >> more information
- BMVBS (ed.): Stadtquartiere für Jung und Alt. Bilanz im Forschungsfeld "Innovationen für familien- und altengerechte Stadtquartiere" (Urban neighbourhoods for young and old. Results of the field of research “Innovations for urban areas suitable for families and elderly people"), Berlin 2010
- BMVBS / BBR (ed.): Urban neighbourhoods for young and old, Bonn, September 2007
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 20537 - town: Hamburg - street: Osterbrookplatz 26.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/AEFm7HmNsvv
Last update: 14.03.2018