High-quality, favourably-priced co-op housing project in former barracks facility
(Baden-Württemberg)
This project has been put into the archive. The project details will not be updated anymore.
Photography: MiKa eG
At the northern fringe of Karlsruhe (pop. 267.000), the listed former German Wehrmacht barracks (built in 1938/39), which had been used by the American military under the name “Smiley Barracks” up to this point in time, became available for conversion in 1994. 20 to 30 individuals organized in order to initiate a shared housing project on the former barracks site.
Photography: Stephan Baumann, Büro für Raum im Bild, Karlsruhe
The action group „MiKa - MieterInneninitiative Karlsruhe Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG" took out a building lease on four of the buildings in 1997 in order to redevelop them and convert them into 86 socially committed apartments (with 1 to 8 rooms), with high-quality fittings and partly adapted to the needs of the disabled. The heating system, windows and interior doors were reused, as far as possible. In order to provide use-neutral ground plans, all apartments were fitted with parquet flooring and telephone or, respectively, satellite connection in each room. All in all, the conversion costs amounted to 510 euro/m².
One of the declared aims of the action group was the integration of migrant, disabled, single and elderly individuals, of apartment-sharing households and families. In addition, the extensive involvement of all co-op members, for example in the planning, standard specification, in self-help construction activities, property management or the selection of new tenants is a central element of the concept. Simultaneously, great ecological demands are placed on the building material selection and rainwater use. The involvement in car-sharing and a „food cooperative“, which directly markets regionally and ecologically produced food items, are expressions of the sustainability-oriented lifestyle of the residents. The co-op principle is realized in amenities like common rooms, appliance leasing and house gardens.
The culture and common building with the independent association „Mikado“ is intended to promote communication between the residents and the neighbourhood. It was opened in the barracks building adjoining the plot in a northerly direction in February 2003. The ground floor houses multi-functional rooms as well as a restaurant with beer garden. The first floor accommodates the “American library”, part of the Karlsruhe Municipal Library, with over 40.000 English-language books – the American garrison's library inventory, left as a gift.
A large part of the conversion was performed by a job creation scheme for long-term unemployed individuals and benefit recipients which was established as part of the measure. Further building firms were selected according to social criteria (minimum wages, no subcontractors and casual workers, employment of women, etc.).
Financing the project via group loans to lender communities who stand surety for each other has greatly contributed to the fact that a socially divergent group of residents came together for this communal housing project.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | The American military vacates the buildings |
| 1994 to 1997 | Idea and project development |
| 1997 | Establishment of the co-op „MiKa MieterInneninitiative Karlsruhe Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG“ |
| 1997 | Takeover of buildings and plot on lease in perpetuity |
| 1997 | Start of the construction measures |
| 1999 | Completion, residents move in |
| 2002 to 2003 | Conversion/extension of the culture and community building |
Photography: MiKa eG
Photography: Stephan Baumann, Büro für Raum im Bild, Karlsruhe
Photography: MiKa eG
Particularly convincing aspects of this housing project are the community feature, the self-administration and the socially compatible financing. The provision of inexpensive housing with high use values in combination with the socially integrative approach and the ecological quality are particularly notable.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 76149 - town: Karlsruhe - street: Kanalweg 48.
Record inserted on 01.06.2003 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: 16.02.2011
