Building & Living:
Platform for
Networking, Synthesis
and Transfer

The goal

The aim of the Building & Living platform is to identify the obstacles to existing innovations for more affordable housing and to provide key impulses for the change of the construction sector. In addition to affordability, the criteria of sustainability and quality (essential living comfort) are also considered.

The project is focusing on existing building structures in urban areas. Being discussed are solution options and impulses for reusing, adding storeys, building extensions and other types of redensification.

More about the project

Expert article: Acceptance of urban and settlement planning

Prof. Dr. Drs. h.c. Ortwin Renn, Scientific Project Lead of the Bauen & Wohnen platform, addresses the question of “how acceptance of sustainable urban and settlement planning can be conceptually defined and empirically assessed” in an expert article. He emphasizes that integrative urban planning requires the “consent of the actors involved,” including citizens. What matters most to them was explored within the Bauen & Wohnen project through two citizens’ councils. Based on their design and results, Ortwin Renn identifies four key factors of acceptance.

Capriccio on Bavarian Television: How Building Type E makes construction simpler

In its report “Building More Simply! With ‘Building Type E’”, the cultural TV magazine Capriccio from Bavarian Broadcasting illustrates how the simplified construction concept works: how to build faster, in a more climate‑friendly way and at lower cost. Using the examples of a house without a conventional heating system and a former spinning mill that is to be converted into housing, the programme presents pragmatic solutions that rely on less technology and fewer norms to make construction more affordable. Experts also discuss current challenges and outline the benefits of this new approach.

Watch “Building More Simply! With ‘Building Type E’” (in German)

Building Type E: Key issues paper by BMJV and BMWSB

Building Type E is intended to make construction simpler, faster and—above all—more affordable. By dispensing with certain construction standards, building costs can be reduced. To enable contracting parties to agree on and implement Building Type E in the future without uncertainty, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building have outlined the framework in a joint key issues paper.

Group Delphi Processes to Integrate Additional Expertise

A central component of the Building & Living project was the implementation of Group Delphi processes — designed both to validate and to complement the expertise of the working groups. The methodological design, implementation, and evaluation were conducted according to scientific standards by DIALOGIK – Non-Profit Institute for Communication and Cooperation Research.

Citizens’ councils in a scientific context

A central component of the Bauen & Wohnen project was the implementation of citizens’ councils to examine the social acceptance of proposals developed by the working groups for more affordable housing. These assemblies took place between April and June in the metropolitan regions of Berlin and the Ruhr area.

Review: Existing Buildings as an Opportunity!
Building & Living at the 18th National Urban Development Policy Congress

The Building & Living platform contributed with its expert forum titled “Existing buildings as an opportunity! Social and technological innovations for more affordable and sustainable living space in the neighbourhoods.” Around 140 participants attended the session, where the current results and discussions from the working groups were presented and discussed.

Best practice:

From administrative headquarters to senior living

Where offices once stood, life has now moved in: The former administrative building of GESOBAU AG in the Märkisches Viertel neighbourhood of Berlin-Reinickendorf has been transformed into a modern residential and commercial property – with 66 new and six existing flats, with barrier-free floor plans and space for a new neighbourhood. This provides, among other things, age-appropriate and affordable options for senior citizens, while the surrounding quarter benefits from new services. The project shows how conversion rather than new construction can bring about lasting change in urban neighbourhoods. You can find out more about the conversion of the GESOBAU administration building and other exciting examples with the potential to create affordable housing in existing buildings on our real-world laboratory mapping platform.

The project is a prime example of how rebuilding instead of new construction can sustainably strengthen urban neighbourhoods. More information on the reuse of the former GESOBAU administrative building, along with additional inspiring examples with potential for creating affordable housing within the existing building stock, can be found in our Reallabor Mapping.

Go to the mapping

Real-world laboratory:

Sonneneck – a neighbourhood for all generations

Grey prefabricated buildings in Dresden's Sonneneck neighbourhood are being transformed into bright, inviting residential buildings – with balconies, lifts and warm colours. The aim is to create affordable living space with apartments of appropriate sizes for families, couples and singles, as well as barrier-free living space for senior citizens. Playgrounds and green spaces are also being created. Some of the renovations and restructures are being carried out while the buildings are still occupied, with residents being kept informed regularly in writing and through on-site visits.

Revitalising existing buildings and their surroundings and creating a mix of affordable and liveable housing: more examples of real-world laboratories with the potential to create affordable housing in existing buildings and best practices can be found on our digital map, the real-world laboratory mapping.

Go to the mapping

Real-world lab Mapping by Bauen & Wohnen and KIT now online

How can real-world laboratories contribute to creating affordable housing in urban areas? We developed a new mapping tool with scientific support from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). An interactive map showcases real-world labs and selected innovative best practice examples in Germany.

To the mapping

Potential for apartment swapping in existing housing stock

Through apartment swapping, up to 11.5 million square meters of living space could be unlocked each year — equivalent to around 357,000 rooms. Sixty-five percent of all tenants would be willing to participate if a suitable offer were available.

Learn more

Loft living space potential: 429,252 additional flats…
... could be built under and on German roofs in the future - according to a study by the Berlin-based technology company Leaftech.

Infill development through extensions of existing buildings offers clear advantages over new construction

Land use, resource consumption, CO₂ emissions, and especially building costs are significantly lower. Average costs per square meter of gross floor area:
- Roof conversion: €1,797
- Extension: €1,738
- New construction: €2,765

© David Ausserhofer

“People should feel comfortable in urban areas and be able to afford an adequate quality of life. This requires the removal of unnecessary regulations and a housing policy that focuses on social equality.”

Prof. Dr. Drs. h.c. Ortwin Renn
Former Scientific Director, Research Institute for Sustainability, acatech Executive Board, Scientific Project Manager “Building & Living” platform

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© Julius Gnoth

“Building in existing structures will become the new industry standard - according to Sarah Dungs, Chairwoman of the Association for Building in Existing Contexts (Verband für Bauen im Bestand e.V.) and Managing Director of the Greyfield Group. During the webinar "Building in Existing Structures: seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges," she explained where CO₂ emissions originate in the construction industry, how resources can be conserved, and why a new mindset is essential for working with existing buildings."

Sarah Dungs
Chairwoman of the Association for Building in Existing Contexts (Verband für Bauen im Bestand e.V.) and
Managing Director of the Greyfield Group

Read the article
© Ulrich Mayer

“This is a highly relevant issue: how can we create new living space not on ‘greenfield sites’ with even more sealing of land, but by using and densifying the already built environment, sealed areas and already built infrastructure?”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Winter 
Ordinarius of the Chair of Timber Structures and Building Construction, TU Munich,
Lead of working group 1 "Building materials, construction and energy“

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© Martin Braun

“We can only create a future worth living in if problems and their causes are analysed from multiple perspectives and if we take targeted measures to address current dysfunctional contexts and overcome existing obstacles. It is important to bring together knowledge from different areas: from planning, construction and operating, science and practice, experts and people in the neighbourhood.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Agnes Förster
Head of the Chair of Planning Theory and Urban Development, RWTH Aachen,
Lead of working group 2 "Urban and neighbourhood development“

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© Schöck Bauteile GmbH

"I am particularly passionate about the connection between sustainability and affordable housing. The Building & Living Platform offers the ideal opportunity to bring our expertise into the discussion and work together on solutions for the construction industry of tomorrow.“

Dr.-Ing. Daniela Kiefer
Structural Engineer for Bridges, Building Construction and Construction Products, SMP Ingenieure Im Bauwesen GmbH,
Lead of working group 1 "Building materials, construction and energy“

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