Günzburg „Model Housing Estate of the Swabia County Foundation“

Context

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On the eastern outskirts of Günzburg (19,700 inh.) an integrative model housing estate was built between 1996 and 1999 in the immediate vicinity to the county hospital. Property developer and client in one is the County of Swabia which has established the Swabia County Foundation for this very purpose. The estate is planned to comprise 150 apartments and numerous community and service facilities – once it is completed.

Project description

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The community comprising a heterogenic mix of residents (seniors, disabled, single parents, women suffering special hardship, parents with many children) is based on the principle “benefit in exchange for benefit”. The principle means that residents are expected to dedicate themselves to “solidarity, self-help and mutual support”, the Swabia County Foundation’s guiding principles. The amenity is augmented by professional care and support for those in need and a children’s house which is as notable from a pedagogical perspective as it is from an architectural one. In a description penned by the Supreme Building Authority, the project is called a “Fuggerei of today”. The housing estate represents an urban design structure where a triangular, connecting square is created by rows of 4-storey buildings, a long “arcade building” and an angled building. The ground floors facing the square accommodate public amenities and shop premises.

Of the planned six housing rows, four buildings containing a total of 86 apartments (including 6 for wheelchair users) have been built so far. The remaining rows are to be constructed at later points in time as needed. Recently, 1 nursery as well as common rooms and offices have been realised.

The various buildings contain differently-sized residential units ranging from one-room apartments for singles up to 6-room apartments for apartment-sharing communities or larger families. On the upper floors, the residential units and individual buildings are linked via broad pergolas structured with trellises, bays, recesses and free seats on the side facing the square. Several shared roof terraces and laundry rooms are also available to the residents.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Solidary living for older people, disabled individuals, single parents, women in special hardship situations, and families with many children
• Self-help and mutual support, for example in housekeeping or caring for children
• Provision of care and support for residents with particular needs

Types of measures

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• Barrier-free residential units which are suitable for the handicapped
• Variable ground plans via switch rooms and lightweight partition walls.
• Establishment of a resident office
• Common rooms and laundry rooms
• Children’s culture centre
• Numerous individual sport opportunities (adventure playground, small grass playing field, street basketball facilities, open-air chess)
• A nursery run by the Protestant Church (including childcare beyond noontime)
• Diverse service-providers

Innovations

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This integrative concept combines the provision of neighbourhood help, care and support facilities with a differentiated housing amenity in a small, independent urban district.

Sources

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• Oberste Baubehörde im Bayerischen Staatsministerium des Innern (Supreme Building Authority in the Bavarian Ministry of Internal Affairs) (1999): Wohnmodelle Bayern. Kostengünstiger Wohnungsbau Housing Models Bavaria. Cost-Effective Housing Development). (Wohnmodelle Bayern, volume 3). Munich

Further information

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• http://www.bezirk-schwaben.de/index.php?id=397

The project location can be directly translated into Google-maps. Project in Google-Maps

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 89312 - town: Günzburg - street: Ludwig-Heilmeyer-Straße 7-21.

Protagonists

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• Oberste Baubehörde im Bayerischen Staatsministerium des Innern (Supreme Building Authority in the Bavarian Ministry of Internal Affairs)
• Bezirk Schwaben (Swabia County), Hafnerberg 10, 86152 Augsburg, 0821/3101-0
• Bezirk-Schwaben-Stiftung (Swabia County Foundation), tel. 08221/50-86, fax -87, email: cornelia.reisenbuechler@bezirk-schwaben.de (developer and client)
• Georg Sahner, Stuttgart (architect)
• Malteser Hilfsdienst gemeinnützige GmbH u. e.V. Tel.-Nr. 08221/3637-0, Fax -19 eMail: monika.nusser@maltanet.de (medical service provider)
• Evangelisches Kinderhaus (Protestant Church nursery ), tel. 08221 -23828, email: ev.kinderhaus@t-online.de