New living and working in the countryside
(Saxony-Anhalt)
Photography: Thomas Preuß
Poppau is in the county Salzwedel in the Altmark and is an organically grown village with originally 160 inhabitants. 1km away, an ecological living and work project is being realised. The initiative for the “Ökodorf Sieben Linden” (Eocological Village Sieben Linden) arose from the precursor project in Groß Chüden which is 25 km away. From the project centre located there, the settlement cooperative Siedlungsgenossenschaft Ökodorf e.G. organised the settling in Poppau. The project had been initiated in 1989 and now has 100 inhabitants.
Source: www.siebenlinden.de
Since 1997/98, a new village has been created for 300 inhabitants in Poppau. Erecting the necessary infrastructure, redeveloping the existing building fabric in an ecological manner and supplementation with new energy-saving houses are the first constructional measures.
Through the combination of living and employment opportunities in agricultural, trade and service companies, economic independence and to a large extent self-sufficiency are planned. Especially the participation of two members in the community council, the employment of craftsmen from the region (during conversion and new construction) and holding public events contribute to the integration into the existing village community. The associated seminar workshop provides public image and advertising with a broad education range.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Founding initiative |
| Since 1993 | Settling in Groß Chüden (15 inhabitants) and planning of the village |
| 1997/98 | Start of the building measures in Poppau |
| 1999 | Erecting infrastructure (local water supply and wastewater disposal, fire water reservoir, own power supply system) and initiating the regional centre and guest house |
| 2000 | The first 20 inhabitants move into two energy-saving houses |
| 2001 | Building of the first "straw bale house" |
| 2003 | Building a woodworking shop |
| 2004 | Building a 3-storey straw bale house |
| 2004 | Village community with 65 people |
| 2005/6 | Building of a further straw bale house for 7 people |
| 2006 | Village community with 100 people |
Source: www.siebenlinden.de
Photography: Susanne Schleyer
Source: www.siebenlinden.de
A large ecological housing and working project is being created in Poppau. The people responsible specifically want to promote life in a structurally weak rural area. An imitation of the existing village structure (craftsmen, community life) and sophisticated ecological and social project elements (integrated energy system, joint village economy) make the settlement a social-ecological model project.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 38486 - town: Poppau - street: Dorfstraße.
Record inserted on 01.08.2002 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: 11.08.2011