Multi-generation projects in urban renewal
(Saarland)
Source: Weeber+Partner
Nauwieser Viertel in Saarbrücken (pop. 177,000) borders on the city centre. The Gründerzeit neighbourhood with fragmented mixed usage has been a redevelopment area since 1980 and meanwhile accepted into the Soziale Stadt ('Social City') programme.
The project was funded and evaluated between 1989 and 1992 as a model plan in the research project "Elderly People and their Neighbourhood" in the federal research programme "Experimenteller Wohnungs- und Städtebau“ - ExWoSt - (experimental residential and urban development).
The intention of the concept was to link housing and urban development measures with the transfer of assistance and care services into the urban districts and area-wide mobile social services.
There are two neighbouring projects which have the aim of co-existence of young and old. These are Mehr-Generationen-Wohnen (Multi-Generation Housing) and the Education and Employment Centre of the SOS-Kinderdorf e.V.
Source: Weeber+Partner
For the new plan for the Gründerzeit neighbourhood Nauwieser Viertel, a disused 2600m2 industrial area - the Gottlieb grounds - was converted. The development and renewal company ESG purchased the grounds in 1989.
A multi-generation housing complex arose through the modernisation of flats, the conversion of warehouse buildings and a new building. The building complex comprises 45 one to four-room flats. The building is fitted out suitable for the disabled and prams thanks to the installation of a lift and a ramp. 16 flats have been designed as barrier-free. For meeting and communication, two yards and a common room have been created.
Particular importance was placed on a careful, resident-oriented urban renewal right from the beginning. As part of the preparation with active involvement, the future residents had a right of co-determination in the selection of the tenants and in certain building measures. This p reliminary phase and the first years of the residential project were accompanied by social pedagogy. The Education and Employment Centre of SOS-Kinderdorf (originally known as "Centre for Young and Old") borders directly on the residential project. The facility was there even before the building was constructed. It was extended during the transfer and offers youths vocational orientation in areas of social and personal services such as home economics or senior citizen and disability assistance. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon café for senior citizens are available there. Especially the residents of the multi-generation housing projects take advantange of this. The catchment area for outpatient services is the entire city area. A mothers' centre has opened as an open meeting place as part of the SOS-project and is not only for mothers. The open meeting place with its indoor play area is open every day. A second hand shop with children's clothes and a babysitting agency are integrated. There are also special services such as German courses with childcare.
Around 10 million D-marks were invested which included public funding from the federal government and the capital market. The form of the funding made it possible to allocate a good share of the flats to tenants whose income is 60% over the limits in social house building.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Designation of the redevelopment area |
| 1989 | The development and renewal company ESG purchases the Gottlieb grounds |
| 1989 to 1992 | Model plan in the ExWoSt research project named "Ältere Menschen und ihr Wohnquartier" (Elderly people and their neighbourhood) |
| 1992 | Beginning of the building measures |
| 1993 to 1997 | Accompaniment of the project by social pedagogy |
| 1995 | New Education and Employment Centre of the SOS-Kinderdorf moved into |
| 1996 | Flats in the multi-generation housing project moved into |
| 2000 to 2003 | Project in the Soziale Stadt programme with four work groups: urban development, open area planning, local economy, recreation and culture |
Source: Weeber+Partner
Source: Weeber+Partner
Source: Weeber+Partner
Thanks to an integrating procedure, it was possible to improve the living conditions for elderly people in the neighbourhood and to provide targeted funding for multi-generation neighbourhoods and assistance. The projects support independent living in old age and also neighbourly contact. Cross-generation networks were created which provide mutual support in the combination of outpatient services and employment initiatives for young people. The integration of social and urban development goal-setting and the needs of different generations as part of the urban renewal are to be highlighted in general.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 66111 - town: Saarbrücken - street: Nauwieser Platz 9.
Record inserted on 06.11.2007 by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).
Last update: 22.08.2008
