A new village has been built up on the site of a former training centre which is supposed to meet high ecological and social demands. For this purpose, residents were searched who participate in the planning and implementation of the project within the society. Apart from the combination of living and working, the aim is to establish a village community.

In Ahrensburg the "Allmende Wulfsdorf" society has founded a new village community. From 2007 on, 300 interested people will live, work and spend their spare time in 14 house-sharing communities and nine commercial buildings. Six residential buildings were refurbished, six new buildings were constructed.  The houses, which were planned by the residents themselvers, have low-energy standard.
Businessmen have 4000 square metres of  storage, office and factory areas at their disposal. An artist's centre was realised, a health centre and a workshop are being planned. A mixture of  design, service and  liberal professions is aspired.
A kindergarden and a gymnasium make up the social infrastructure. The buildings are provided with heat via a heating plant fuelled by wood ships and via solar energy plants. Besides, rainwater is used.

In order to support the community, a society, of which all Allmende residents are members and which has acquired the property, was founded. Joint activities foster cooperation, the participation in planning and execution reinforces the ties to the place of residence. Furthermore, a social fund to support residents fallen into financial distress has been set up. People from neighbouring places are integrated in joint activities.

The area, which had been fallow, was revitalised in the framework of the project and sustainably refunctionalised through various kinds of uses. Old building structures were enhanced and usefully extended by new buildings. The project is characterised by a high diversity of social and ecological approaches.

Due to different forms of housing (socially and  senior-friendly flats, flat-sharing communities) and residents' participation, a large range of people in different phases and situations of life such as families, seniors, singles, socially discriminated people etc. is addressed.

The project was based on the old structures of the training centre, on private funds, commitment and creativity of the society members. 

Allmende Wulfsdorf e. V.
Bornkampsweg 36
22926 Ahrensburg
Germany
Phone: +49(0)4102-4582-30
info@allmende-wulfsdorf.de
http://www.allmende-wulfsdorf.de
Sabine Franke (Member of the society)

01/01/2002

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Environmental sustainability