New methods and organization forms for district development
(Baden-Württemberg)
The urban extension project for approximately 10.000 residents in the Riesefeld district on Freiburg’s western outskirts is being realized since 1991. In response to the then growing housing demand the district was conceived with the intention of avoiding the defects besetting existing large housing estates and of consciously contributing to a functional augmentation in housing development. A significant step forward was already achieved by the fact that various amenities and the tram connection had been realized before people even started settling in the area.
Photography: Manfred Fuhrich, BBSR im BBR
Stable social structures were to be created via professional social work and the socio-cultural infrastructure was to be developed jointly with the new residents. To achieve this, the task of building up the residential district was assigned to the intermediary organization “Contact Point for Practice-Oriented Research” at the Protestant Polytechnic Freiburg. This agency took on the challenge of initiating, supporting and mediating the development of a workable everyday culture. For the work within the district, the charitable association “K.I.O.S.K. (Contact, Information, Organization, Self-Help, Culture) in Rieselfeld” was established.
The basic idea was to initially refrain from constructing social amenities and instead develop workable social structures via professional social work.
The K.I.O.S.K. association’s various activities are aimed at creating a supply-oriented open communication structure. One of the central tasks was promoting the involvement in the planning and construction of the new district. The association is a point of address for the diverse planning stakeholders and simultaneously sees its mission in the transportation of resident suggestions and requirements. The opening of the K.I.O.S.K. shop meant that infrastructures such as a post office and bakery as well as a central contact point for the new residents could be provided as early on as in the construction stage.
Besides the council grant, significant third-party funds (job creation schemes, employment promotion programme, research funds) could be mobilized so that several people could work on the project continuously.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1994 | The social and youth support committee approves the concept “District Development Rieselfeld” |
| April 1995 | Project activity start |
| June 1996 | Foundation of the association K.I.O.S.K. |
| December 1996 | Opening of the K.I.O.S.K. shop in the district |
| October 2003 | Conclusion |
Photography: Tina Hörmann
Photography: KIOSK
In the „District Development Rieselfeld“ project, shaping the new district’s social and cultural identity in a targeted fashion began as early as during the first settlement stage. Resident identification with the new estate and the early involvement of residents in the design of the estate environment and the entire district contributed to the development of a varied residential quarter which is worth living in.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 79111 - town: Freiburg - street: Oberer Rieselfeldgraben.
Record inserted on 01.02.2003 by Lehrstuhl für Planungstheorie und Stadtplanung, RWTH Aachen and updated by theFederal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).
Last update: 13.02.2009
