Model project for a child-compatible estate
(Rhineland-Palatinate)
Source: Wohnen mit Kindern e.V.
The association „Living with Children” is active nation-wide and was founded by parents in the 1970s in reaction to residential environments that paid little regard to families or children. The association developed „Guidelines for Family-Friendly Housing“. Their demands included a call for residential environments affording children free reign in interior as well as exterior spaces. The design of the ground plan is aimed at supporting parents in keeping an eye on their children (e. g. view of the garden from the kitchen-cum-living room). Another demand were two large rooms with functional flexibility which could be used to accommodate changes within the family. In 1996, the association finally found a suitable plot for the practical evaluation of these ideas in a development area in Föhren (pop. 2.800)
Photography: M. Müller
The housing estate is a pilot project in cooperation with Rhineland-Palatinate state authorities and comprises ten terraced houses. The association „Living with Children“ maintained very intensive contacts to politicians and planners and was involved in the drafting of the legally binding land-use plan. It simultaneously started looking for further families with children and single parents interested in joining the project.
The association remained highly involved in the entire planning and construction process. Interested families were given the opportunity to meet in a so-called „social orientation phase“ before being asked to reach a final decision on their participation in the project. From September 1997 onward, the project group met weekly. In order to meet various demands made by individual families, the plots were only parcelled out at a very late stage. The construction group agreed on a uniform roof and facade design, as well as timber frame constructions in order to minimize costs. The ground plans of the buildings were elaborated in compliance with the guidelines formulated by the association “Living with Children”. Arranging the houses around a courtyard created the possibility of orientating the kitchen-cum-living rooms towards the open spaces. These shared spaces in the estate courtyard were designed by the residents independently. This is where a varied playground landscape is provided for the children as well as spaces for shared adult activities. A community building which was also planned has not yet been realized. Owing to the flexible function rooms and the community spaces, the housing complex could also be used by other target-groups or be adjusted to changing requirements.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov. 1995 | Contact to the community of Föhren is established |
| April 1996 | First information event on the housing project in Föhren |
| Sept. 1997 | Granted Rhineland Palatinate State pilot project status |
| Sept. 1998 | Purchase of the plots |
| Nov. 1998 | Construction start |
| Aug. 1999 | Residents move into the first buildings |
| April 2002 | Completion of the estate courtyard and communal space |
Photography: M. Müller
Photography: M. Müller
Pilot project in the Rhineland-Palatinate state programme “Experimental Housing and Urban Development”
Photography: M. Müller
With the housing estate in Föhren, the association „Living with Children“ successfully put its guidelines for family- and child-friendly architecture and housing into practice. The association’s intensive preparation of and involvement in the project ensured that the high demands placed in it could be met.
The project location can be directly translated into Google-maps. Project in Google-Maps
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 54343 - town: Föhren - street: Im Käulchen 2.
Record inserted on 01.09.2004 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: 09.09.2010
