Bremen-Neustadt „Beguine Estate“

Context

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In 1997, a women’s action group in Bremen founded the association „Bremer Beginenhof Modell e.V.” with the aim of establishing residential and economic communities for women of all ages along the lines of the Beguine estates in the 13th and 14th century.

In the Bremen district of Neustadt, a very densely populated quarter in the immediate vicinity of the Werdersee lake with green spaces and sports facilities, a long, 6.000 m² brownfield plot accessible from three sides was available for recycling.

Project description

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The urban planning and architectural design was developed by the architect Alxandra Czerner, Hamburg, and members of the association from 1998 onwards. The result was an ensemble of four 3-storey buildings surrounding a courtyard and a public square. In three of the bar-shaped buildings, a sum total of 85 apartments of a uniform standard and partly featuring adjustable ground plans has been constructed. All buildings were intended to feature council homes, rented and owner-occupier apartments, with each category making up one third of the respective building. All residential units are accessible via lifts and pergolas and feature a balcony or loggia as well as light from two sides. Since June 2001, the buildings house around 70 women as well as 30 children and adolescents in a community-style arrangement intended to augment or replace traditional family structures. The (female) initiators call the concept „elective affinity”.

Industrial spaces have been created in the so-called “tower” and on the ground floors: offices, practice spaces and shop premises. The (female) users include, for example: a health centre with fitness studio, a whole-food shop, a dentist and a lawyer. Recent additions include a midwife practice and an education and support association for students. Approximately 20 jobs have been created so far.

Since July 2003, the fourth building accommodates a nursery school for 40 children. The social and industrial facilities of the „Beginenhof“ also expressly address the neighbourhood and supplement the range of amenities available in the district.

Very early on, the residents established a "mobility study group" campaigning for the "largely car-free" nature of the project on various levels and for the promotion of public transport.

Despite having in the meantime experienced financial difficulties, which were caused by a cut in subsidies, the ambitious project approach was continued and a funding concept was developed.

Since 1 January 2009, the involvency proceedings have been finished. 40 flats were bought by women. The other 45 flats were bought by GEWOBA AG, a large real estate company, which also lets them. Even commercial areas are partly considered as private property and are partly leased.

Project chronology

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Year	Event
1997	The association "Bremer Beginenhof Modell e.V." is established
From 1998	Joint design development (architect and users)
1999	The cooperative society “Bremer Beginenhof Wohnungsbau Kooperative e.G.“ is established
June 2000	Construction start
May 2001	Completion, first residents move in
Since August 2001	Insolvency proceedings
July 2003	The nursery starts operating
January 2009	Insolvency proceedings finished

Aims

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• Providing a housing and work community for women in the city
• Overcoming the isolation of single women with and without children
• Achieving a consistent mixture of residential and work sphere, leisure and utility facilities
• Contemporary architecture which supports communication and opens up to the district and neighbourhood
• “Largely car-free” estate supporting sustainable mobility

Types of measures

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• Construction of 85 rented apartments, owner-occupier apartments, shop premises, offices and practices
• Construction of industrial spaces and letting property to (female) business founders
• New construction of a nursery school
• Study group “mobility”, car-sharing parking space, public transport ticket pool

Awarded worldwide project status for EXPO 2000

Special prize awarded in 2001 by the UNCHS (United Nations Center of Human Settlements) as an innovative "Housing Model for Single Women"

Innovations

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This project was a reaction to the rising demand for types of housing that meet the requirements of single working women. By providing apartments and business premises, the „Beginenhof“ also adds important elements to the range of amenities available in the inner city district. The dominant neighbourhood ideal opens up new housing perspectives beyond traditional (family) structures and facilitates the creation of a multigenerational household community of women living together.

Sources

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• Riemer-Noltenius, Erika (2002): Beginenhof Bremen. Ein Brief (Beguine Estate Bremen. A Letter.). In: Women’s magazine „Ab 40“. Issue 4/2002, Bremen
• Czerner, A.; Riemer-Noltenius, E. (2001): Das Bremer Beginenhof Modell (The Bremen Beguine Estate Model). In: Das Bauzentrum / Baukultur. Über einen Wandel im Wohnen (The Building Centre. Construction Culture. On a Shift in Housing.). (Magazine issue 3/2001), n. l.
• Riemer-Noltenius, E. (2001): Offen und eigenständig - das Bremer Beginenhof Modell (Open and Independent – the Bremen Beguine Estate Model). In: Wohnbund e.V. Baukunst – Baukultur: Die Ästhetik der Partizipation (Housing Society „Wohnbund e.V. Baukunst – Baukultur“. The Esthetics of Participation). (Wohnbund Information issue 4/2001). Munich (layout plan and photo 4)
• Cooperative Association „Bremer Beginenhof Wohnungsbau Kooperative“ (n. y.): The Bremen Beguine Estate Model (Das Bremer Beginenhof Modell). Bremen
• Bremer Beginenhof Modell (The Bremen Beguine Estate Model) (n. y.): Bremer Beginenhof Modell. Beginenhof in der Bremer Neustadt / Die Beginenkultur (The Bremen Beguine Estate Model. Beguine Estate in Bremen Neustadt / The Culture of the Beguines). In: http://www.beginenhof.de

Further information

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• Beguine umbrella organization “Dachverband der Beginen e. V.“, Haus der Demokratie, Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin http://www.dachverband-der-beginen.de
• On Beguine culture: diverse literature available in bookshops

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 28201 - town: Bremen - street: Beginenhof 1.

Protagonists

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Association „Bremer Beginenhof Modell e.V.“, Dr. Erika Riemer-Noltenius, tel. 0421/239753, fax 0421/231955, email: info@beginenhof.de, web: http://www.beginenhof.de