Würselen „Mauerfeldchen“

Context

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An expert report on „Housing Supplies for Women in Need" commissioned by the equal opportunity commissioner in 1994 had established a dearth of large, affordable apartments for families and especially for single mothers in the Aachen municipal district. The concept for the construction in Mauerfeldchen was to address this issue. The site is located at the periphery of Würselen (pop. 36.500), a small town north of Aachen. The walking distance to the town centre is 10 minutes. There is a bus stop in the immediate vicinity for longer journeys.

Project description

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26 housing units and one common room were constructed in three parallel buildings, each of them featuring three full floors and one graduated storey. The buildings are connected via open stairwells. The apartments come in various sizes and layouts ranging from one bedroom to five-room apartments. All the living rooms can also be used as individual rooms because each kitchen is assigned a common area which can replace the living room. Switchover rooms with own sanitary units allow for later subletting or the independent accommodation of adolescents.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Consideration of special features required for "Living with Children"
• Mutual tenant support through community living
• Promotion of social control
• Generous ground plans, partly barrier-free
• Favourably priced construction methods

Types of measures

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• Early involvement and codetermination of tenants in the planning and building stages
• Flexible apartment ground plans, switchover rooms
• Child-friendly house rules
• Tenant self-governance via “Tenant Statute” (tenant meetings, tenant representation, representation of individual interest groups)
• Common room / apartment
• Joint garden and courtyard design
• Low energy standard and rainwater utilization

Innovations

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A distinguishing feature of the project is the fact that generous, flexible ground plans were created in compliance with the floor space limits applicable in subsidized housing. In addition to this, the apartments were created in a child-friendly environment and are available to (female) tenants who are experiencing a particular need for them. The extensive involvement and codetermination opportunities afforded the later tenants were essential project elements.

Sources

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• Landesinstitut für Bauwesen des Landes NRW (NRW State Institute for Construction) (ed.), Neues Wohnen in NRW (New Housing in NRW State), Aachen, 1999, (project information, layout plan and photos)
• Min. für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen, Kultur und Sport NRW (NRW State Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Culture and Sports) (ed.), Bauen mit sozialem Verstand (Building with Social Reasoning), Düsseldorf, 2001 (photos)
• Kreis Aachen, Gleichstellungsstelle (Aachen District Authority, Equal Opportunity Office) (ed.) Wohnen mit Kindern im Mauerfeldchen (Living with Children in Mauerfeldchen), Aachen, 1999

Further information

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• The project site can be located at: Post Code: 52146, Town/City: Würselen, Street: Mauerfeldchen

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 52146 - town: Würselen - street: Mauerfeldchen 98.

Protagonists

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• Dr. N. Mika-Helfmeier, Gleichstellungsbeauftragte des Kreises Aachen (equal opportunities officer of Aachen District Authority), tel. 0241/5198-664
• Angelika Simbringer, Klaus-Novy-Institute, Cologne
• Planungsgruppe (planning group) WohnStadt, Aachen Ulla Komes (architect), tel. 0241/151921
• A. Beginen Herzogenrath, G. Sauren, Aachen (investors)