Neighbourhood centre Grone and multi-generation house Göttingen
(Lower Saxony)
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
The "Grone-Süd" neighbourhood is on the western outskirts of Göttingen (pop. 122,000), approx. 4 km from the city centre. It is a residential district built in the 1960s and 1970s, which is characterised mainly by 4 and 6-storey buildings. Terraced houses are located on the edge of the estate. The urban district's image was recently characterised by increasing vacancies, vandalism and neglected public spaces.
Because of its above-average unemployment levels and high proportion of welfare recipients, in comparison to the city as a whole, Grone-Süd is one of the disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods in the city. The proportion of children receiving social welfare is also disproportionately high.
In 1999, the redevelopment area "Grone-Süd" was included in the national-state programme "Stadtteile mit besonderem Erneuerungsbedarf - die Soziale Stadt" (Urban districts with particular need for renewal - the social city). Based on an integrated action concept, numerous measures for upgrading the housing environment and the housing have been implemented since then.
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
As an answer to the social problems and neighbourhood conflicts in the "Grone-Süd" district, the social department of the City of Göttingen established the urban district centre Grone in 1999. Because of the vacancy rates, five ground floor apartments and a tower block were converted for this. However, the facility's services remained behind the demand and the urban district centre lost its attraction.
With the inclusion of the redevelopment area "Grone-Süd" in the "Soziale Stadt" programme, the erection of a new building as a neighbourhood centre became a possibility. It should be successful because of the central inner city location and a new concept with qualities for different user groups.
The city's concept envisaged the transfer of the facility to a local, independent management organisation. In order to guarantee broad support in the urban district, the "Nachbarschaftszentrum Grone e.V." association was founded as the management organisation from the charitable organisations already active in the district and from the three church communities.
In the following years, the content and spatial design of the new building for a neighbourhood centre, with multi-generational use, was developed in a cooperative planning procedure. Local stakeholders were involved in the planning workshops to develop ideas and designs.
The new neighbourhood centre and the mutely-generation house were built in a central location in the district in 2006 and opened in spring 2007. Shortly thereafter, the surrounding spaces were redesigned as a district park.
The building offers a large foyer as a reception area and possibility for public meetings. Three group rooms can be merged into a large event room and used for cultural events.
The neighbourhood centre and the multi-generation house have developed into an important meeting and contact place in the urban district. The offer includes advice services such as district-based job market, an interpreting service and the like. Education is also available, such as language and computer courses. Largely voluntarily organised courses such as leisure and meeting services round off the services. These include watercolour painting, gymnastics and a library and book-swapping service.
The institution is led by a full-time manager who is supported by project-related committed freelance employees and volunteers.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 vacant ground floor apartments occupies by the urban district centre |
| 1999 | "Nachbarschaftszentrum Grone e.V." association takes over the management of the centre in Grone by the City of Göttingen |
| 1999 | Inclusion of the redevelopment area "Grone-Süd" in to the "Soziale Stadt" (Social City) programme |
| 2002 | Start of planning for the new construction of a neighbourhood centre and multi-generation house with working groups for citizens and experts processes |
| 2005 | Promise of support for the new building from the "Soziale Stadt" programme |
| 2006 | Start of building |
| 2007 | Inauguration and renewal as a government multi-generation house |
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
Source: plan zwei Stadtplanung und Architektur, Hannover
The erection of the neighbourhood centre and multi-generation house is an important component of the strengthening of the neighbourhood centre in Grone-Süd. New target groups addressed, thereby supporting the citizen's identification with their district.
The cooperative planning process with participation from local stakeholders is noteworthy. As a result, the concept could be adjusted to the requirements of the multi-generational approach.
Not least, the cooperation between local authorities and the Nachbarschaftszentrum Grone e.V. association secures the anchoring of the community centre in the district.
After just a few weeks being in the newly created premises, visitor numbers have increased and new user groups are frequenting the new premises.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 37081 - town: Göttingen - street: Deisterstraße 10.
The following were involved in the planning process:
Contact partner for the project:
Record inserted on 23.09.2008 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: 17.08.2009