Oer-Erkenschwick „Schillerpark“

Context

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After the end of the mining, the former mining town of Oer-Erkenschwick finds itself in a far-reaching economic structural change. In addition, a fall in the population is expected for the medium to long term. The structural changes are characterised, in particular, by the growing unemployment and an increase in the proportion of people receiving transfer payments. Vacancy problems can be seen in neighbourhoods with multi-family dwellings in social housing, especially in the "Schillerpark" estate close to the inner-city. It was built in the 1970s with 221 apartments, including 66 retirement apartments. The estate comprised three terrace-like building complexes each with nine to twelve storeys inside and two to four storeys on the outside of the buildings. The "Schillerpark" developed into a social hotspot. The large form represents an inner-city foreign body.

Project description

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In view of the grave problems in the settlement, several alternatives for dealing with the high-rise settlement were examined by the owner - Vestisch-Märkische Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH (VMW). These included both action concepts for a total renewal of the settlement, an orderly partial reduction, a complete demolition with subsequent rebuilding and sale to an investor. With regard to the future suitability of the location from an inner-city, housing economy, social and financial perspective, the strategy of an orderly partial reduction with a simultaneous upgrading of the remaining stock was selected within the framework of an integrated concept.

The partial reduction was vertical. This means the highest individual buildings with 9-12 storeys were removed from the total of three building complexes. The next step was a horizontal reduction. The number of storeys of the remaining buildings was reduced to four and five. Overall, 101 apartments were demolished. At the same time, several new apartments were created. Three independently financed penthouse apartments were created, each with 140 sqm, which were saddled to the reduced stock. A further 20 apartments were created in two new buildings. Of these, each building has nine apartments suitable for retired persons and a penthouse. The extra penthouses, in particular, serve to open up the settlement to new customer groups. The tenants of the remaining "old apartments" and the new "retirement" apartments have also been offered an individually tailored packet of services from the neighbouring residential and nursing home.

In addition to the structural measures, the living environment has been upgraded. Corresponding to the inner-city principle of "Living in the new Schillerpark", generous lawn areas, groups of trees, play and sheltered areas have been created, as well as a central green link with smaller squares within the housing area. At the same time, these spaces have been connected to the inner-city.

The accompanying neighbourhood and implementation management before, during and after the construction measures must be emphasised. The neighbourhood management coordinated the activities required for the partial reduction and involved the residents in the development process. Alternative housing within the estate was provided in advance for the residents affected by the redevelopment.

The redevelopment of the Schillerpark estate was an impulse project by Oer-Erkenschwick within the framework of the Experimentelle Wohnungs- und Städtebau (ExWoSt) research project Stadtumbau West. Apart from removing social and housing-economy problems, the projects aimed to change awareness within a political situation used to growth, within the administration and the public.

Project chronology

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Year	Event
2001	Development of a strategy by the housing company
2002	Inclusion in the ExWoSt research project Stadtumbau West
2003	Start of the overall measures, relocation management
2004	Partial demolition, horizontally and vertically, and structural adjustments
2007	Additional new construction, design of the open space, completion

Aims

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• Sustained stabilisation and further development of a difficult housing location
• Adjustment of the housing supply to a fall in population
• Creation of a demand-orientated form of housing
• Attractive and varied housing supply
• Upgrading of the neighbourhood and its entire appearance
• Stabilisation of the social and occupancy structure
• Continual integration of residents and the public
• Affordable rents

Types of measures

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• Partial reduction of apartments
• Modernisation of remaining buildings
• Resident-orientated adjustment of the living space in the remaining buildings
• Services throughout the Schillerpark to support the residents
• Enhancement of the housing surroundings
• Neighbourhood management, relocation and occupancy management
• Publicity work / accompanying tenant communication and resident involvement
• Expansion of the existing buildings with penthouse apartments
• Expansion to the housing supply with wheelchair-accessible apartments

Innovations

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As a result of the integrated inner-city measures, the attractiveness of the "Schillerpark" housing estate has been increased considerably and its image has been changed positively. The advance examination of alternative options by the housing company has proven itself to be an important, strategic step. The combination of a reduction and simultaneous upgrading strategy facilitated a considerable jump in quality in the Schillerpark residential neighbourhood. The social, communication and organisational measures, as well as the close cooperation between housing company, residential and nursing home and local authority must also be highlighted.

An enormous interest in the living space in the neighbourhood was seen even during the construction measures. The housing stock is fully let.

Sources

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• Town of Oer-Erkenschwick: Final report on the Oer-Erkenschwick-Schillerpark pilot project in the ExWoSt research project Stadtumbau West 2002 – 2007 (unpublished)
• <http://www.schillerpark.info>

Further information

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• Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (Hrsg.) (published by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning): Stadtumbau West. Stadtumbau in 16 Pilotstädten – Bilanz im ExWoSt-Forschungsfeld Stadtumbau West (Urban Regeneration West. Urban Regeneration in 16 pilot cities) ed. 2008. Berlin/Oldenburg 2008.
• <http://www.stadtumbauwest.de>
• <http://www.ths.de/>

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

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 45739 - town: Oer-Erkenschwick - street: Halluinstraße.

Protagonists

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• Stadt Oer-Erkenschwick, Udo Jeuschnik, Rathausplatz 1, 45793 Oer-Erkenschwick, Tel.: (02368) 691-231, Fax: (02368) 691-378, Email: <udo.jeuschnik@oer-erkenschwick.de>
• THS Wohnen GmbH, Dr. Marie Mense, Nordsternplatz 1, 45889 Gelsenkirchen. Tel.: (0209) 380-1504, Fax: (0209) 380-1458, Email: <marie.mense@ths.de>, Web: <http://www.ths.de/>
• THS Consulting GmbH, Ingrid Hallerbach, Nordsternplatz 1, 45889 Gelsenkirchen. Tel.: (0209) 380-1504, Fax: (0209) 380-1460, Email: <ingrid.hallerbach@ths.de>, Web: <http://www.ths-consulting.de/>
• Bundestransferstelle Stadtumbau West, FORUM GmbH, Donnerschweer Str. 4, 26123 Oldenburg, Tel.: (0471) 98059 -22; Email: <info@forum-oldenburg.de>