Intergenerational neighbourhood
(Hesse)
This project has been put into the archive. The project details will not be updated anymore.
Source: FIRU mbH
Up to the 1970s, the inner city of Neu-Isenburg (pop 36.000) was characterized by a dense mix of housing, trade and manufacturing operations. The inner city quarters were polluted by noise, olfactory emissions and a heavy traffic volume. There was also a lack of usable green and open spaces. Two sausage factories („Frankfurters“) impaired the urban design development and placed a considerable strain on the environment.
Against this background, quarter IV (2,06 ha) and other building blocks were formally dedicated a redevelopment area. The transferral of both the factories finally created the area potential for a restructuring of the centrally located quarter.
The beginning of the 1980s showed an increasing local resident proportion of older people being faced with a substandard coverage situation. For this reason, the borough’s urban restructuring effort was henceforth closely linked to old people’s welfare. The council had been able to secure plots for the inner city housing project for young and old people early on with anticipatory land purchases.
Between 1989 and 1993, the project was funded and evaluated as a model project within the research field “Elderly People and their Residential Quarter” (Ältere Menschen und ihr Wohnquartier), which is a part of the federal research programme “Experimental Housing and Urban Development” (Experimenteller Wohnungs- und Städtebau).
Source: Bernd Breuer, BBSR im BBR
The relocation of the manufacturing operations initially created fallow land which was used for car parking temporarily. In 1987 the council had finally completed the development of an outline plan pursuing an integrated approach to both urban renewal and old people’s welfare. The outline plan provided a basis for the performance of urban and housing design measures and the provision of the social and organizational requirements for the integration of older individuals and inter-generational housing.
Quarter IV was provided with a dense residential structure within walking distance of the town centre's supply amenities. The more peacefully located inner areas of the blocks were equipped with generous private and semi-public open and green spaces. Forty of the approximately 100 apartments specifically cater to older individuals and are partly suited to the needs of the disabled. The access routes to the neighbouring family apartments are also barrier-free. The varied housing offer is supplemented by diverse advice and assistance services. The generation-spanning social space „Treff im Quartier IV“ serves as an integrative activity and meeting location which is also open to the district.
The realization of the first projects triggered investment incentives, which in turn initialized the rapid restructuring of the inner city wasteland. Today, Quarter IV is characterized by well-functioning commercial buildings along the adjoining Frankfurter Straße and ranks as one of Neu-Isenburg’s most popular residential areas.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1972 - 1975 | Preliminary analysis, observation of urban design defects |
| 1977 | Formal dedication of the redevelopment area |
| 1979 to 1987 | Factory relocations |
| 1987 | Creation of the outline concept for the redevelopment in quarter IV by “Architekturbüro ASAD” in Darmstadt; Realization competition |
| 1989 to 1993 | EXHUD model project “Elderly People and Their Residential Quarter" |
| 1990 to 1991 | Creation of the legally binding land-use plan “Quarter IV” by Architekturbüro ASAD |
| 1990 | Construction of 29 supervised apartments and the “Treff im Quartier IV” social space |
| 1991 | Construction of 18 family apartments |
| 1992 | Construction of a further 11 supervised apartments and 12 family apartments |
| 1993 | Construction of an underground car park and a park |
| 1994 | Architekturbüro ASAD is awarded the Wüstenrot Foundation’s design award “Independence via Assisted Housing in Old Age” |
| Until 2003 | Realization of further residential and commercial buildings |
Source: Bernd Breuer, BBSR im BBR
Source: Bernd Breuer, BBSR im BBR
Source: Bernd Breuer, BBSR im BBR
The project has successfully converted a highly polluted industrial area into an attractive and varied urban district. It still represents a pioneering urban design approach to maintaining independence and social inclusion up to old age as well as providing for the social and spatial integration of all generations. The project furthermore generated impulses for the restructuring and long-term stabilization of an inner city shopping street.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 63263 - town: Neu-Isenburg - street: Adolf-Bauer-Straße .
Record inserted on 26.07.2005 by the Federal 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
