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Housing in a space-saving low-energy construction style

Donaueschingen „Auf dem Staig“

(Baden-Württemberg)

tools:

Fields of action:

[Environment]

Context

In 1992 a city-wide climate concept was approved in Donaueschingen, a county town with approximately 21.600 residents which is situated between Lake Constance and the Black Forest. The concept includes extensive planning approach specifications concerning space-saving and ecological construction methods. The ecological model settlement was constructed as part of a relatively large development in the southern town periphery. It provides the area with a closure point and a transition to the open landscape.

Project description

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Image: Ansicht

Photography: Tina Hörmann

The eco-settlement „Auf dem Staig“ consists of 20 single-family buildings arranged in three groups. All buildings were created using space-saving low energy construction methods. The 9 earth mound buildings, 5 timber log buildings and 6 solar buildings use various energy saving, production and utilization technologies and methods.

Project chronology

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Year	Event
1992	Climate concept for the entire city
1997	Completion, residents move in

Aims

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Testing ecological construction principles via various building concepts
Health- and environment-compatible, biologically structured construction methods
Avoidance/reduction of surface sealing
Improved heat protection
Minimization of water consumption
Breathable exterior walls (solid wood buildings)

Types of measures

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Image: Solarhäuser

Photography: Holger Wolpensinger

Passive and active sun energy utilization (atrium buildings, winter gardens, Trombe wall, collectors)
Energy saving measures (building shapes with a favourable surface-volume ratio, roof landscaping, orientation of the developments)
Transparent heat insulation (solar buildings)
Wall surface heating via infrared radiation heating system (solid wood buildings)
Use of ecological building materials
Rain water seepage
Specifications concerning compliance with underlying target concepts in legally binding land-use plans and purchase agreements

Innovations

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Image: Erdhügelhäuser

Photography: Holger Wolpensinger

The innovative character of this settlement resides in testing various energy utilization, saving and production measures in combination with a dense, space-saving construction method. The settlement serves to impressively demonstrate a broad range of experimental low energy technologies.

Sources

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Ökologische Stadtentwicklung (Ecological Urban Development), Michael Koch, 2001 (project description, layout plan)
Wirtschaftsministerium Bad.-Württ. (B.-W. Ministry of Trade and Commerce): Ökosiedlung "Auf dem Staig" (Eco-Settlement „Auf dem Staig“), 1994
Stadt Donaueschingen (Donaueschingen Council): Kommunales Handlungsprogramm zur Begrenzung der Klimaveränderung (Communal Action Programme to Limit Climate Change), 1992 (2nd ed.1997)
http://oekosiedlungen.de/ (photos 2+3)