PHOTOS
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CHALLENGE
The challenge was to develop a new concept for a housing project together with the future inhabitants. The network “bauen und leben” started the initiative to form a building group. A group of people between 32 and 81 years met and planned the apartments along their wishes. In regular meetings the group discussed the way of future living together: the density of community and further common activities as well as the shape and quality of the architecture and supply of common rooms.

AIM OF THE PROJECT
The network “bauen und leben” had the aim to develop alternative forms of living for all generations that offer individual design of the apartment as well as active participation in the community of the house.
The combination of good infrastructure in the district and a friendly neighbourhood in the house should give the chance to stay in the own flat as long as possible.

DESCRIPTION
Four to five apartments (out of 14) are grouped around a large, collectively used hall. The barrier-free apartments are planned individually. The size of apartments differs between 39 sqm to 124 sqm. Except for the individual flats, the whole house is planned by the building group in close collaboration moderated by the network “bauen und leben” (today “bauen und leben e.G.”).
In May 2004 the network “bauen und leben” applied for an estate in the district Findorff that belonged to the city of Bremen. The concept and the draft of the building were part of the application. In February 2006 the building group decided to look for a developer to start the realization. The network “bauen und leben” took charge of planning the house and moderating the process. The building phase started at the beginning of 2007, in May 2008 the first inhabitants moved in.

Actor / Lead Management / Cooperation
Main actor is the network “bauen und leben”. In this network are united a moderator, several architects, an attorney and a merchant to realise alternative housing projects. Meanwhile the network organised itself as a registered cooperative society “bauen und leben e.G.” The society offers all services that are needed to realise a housing project: Initiation of projects, moderation of group finding processes, moderation of planning processes and support during the different phases of a project. Every building group develops self-defined and in their own way along the aims of the society.

EXPERIENCE
Housing projects with a continuous neighbourhood are a good alternative to the common ways of living together. The deep identification of the inhabitants with their project is a relevant contribution to the development of a district.
The realisation of a housing project needs a high commitment of all partners and a good moderation during the whole process.

SUBSIDY / ADVICE
For this project no subsidy was requested. The Senator of Environment, Building, Traffic and Europe accompanied the realisation of the project very benevolently.