Date: 30.01.2024 0 FORUM Architekturgebäude TU Berlin (U Ernst-Reuter-Platz)
Scope: We will involve co-operatives more closely. Why? Because they have a strong social impact as well as a structural one. What do cities look like that are focussing more on resources from the region and on their own (urban mining)? What impact does this have on logistics, on the environment (forest conversion)? Does this give rise to new cooperative models with referenc to August Ellinger’s and Martin Wagner’s Bauhütten movement over a hundred years ago? Our aim is to bring together all parties. Those who already have experience in timber construction, those who would like to get started and especially those who are facing major challenges or are fundamentally sceptical. There are a total of 1.97 million flats in Berlin. The vast majority, more than 83% of the flats, are occupied by tenants. This includes the flats owned by Berlin’s housing cooperatives. Of the 1,644,000 rental flats, around 11.5 % are owned by co-operatives. In total, the Berlin co-operatives own just under 190,000 flats, of which 27,000 are flats subject to occupancy restrictions.
Occasion: The current housing shortage in Berlin, with a deficit of 100,000 flats, urgently requires quick solutions. Despite ambitious targets, the city is failing to meet its goal of building 20,000 new flats a year. The issues of climate protection and the housing shortage can only be solved together. Wood and other renewable raw materials play a key role here, although there are still social reservations and economic obstacles. We believe that these can be dismantled and overcome together and are already working on solutions in which wood and other renewable raw materials play a central role in tackling climate protection and the housing shortage. We are looking with interest at the newly founded StadtWatt and other co-operative associations that are pulling in the same direction.
Intention: We at Bauhütte 4.0 recognise the need for joint action in order to effectively tackle the issues of climate protection and housing shortages. At the same time, we see great potential in the utilisation and joint procurement of biogenic building materials, especially wood. How can its use be expanded with the involvement of regional partners? How can we promote sustainable and community-orientated development? From its environmentally friendly properties to its versatility and cost-effectiveness, wood offers a compelling solution to the challenges of urban development and multi-storey housing construction.
5 Keys Takeaway 1. Recognizing the value of networks like Bauhütte 4.0 in covering the entire value chain of timber construction, connecting cooperatives that share one common goal (such as providers of a specific service) 2. Emphasizing good practices such as GIMA and StadtWatt, where competencies are organized within one organization and knowledge is shared with cooperatives. 3. Implementing integrated project management, fostering transparent communication, and aiming to keep material and financial flows within the community and region. 4. Developing manuals for transitory collaborative constellations to streamline processes and adapt to changing actors. 5. Advocating for increased education and sensitization of powerful stakeholders such as owners and investors to drive sustainable and socially relevant built solutions.
We would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions. The following companies and organizations were represented:
Altes Postgelände Strausberg eG, einer für alle eG, GSP eG Treptow Nord eG, Charlottenburger Baugenossenschaft eG, Möckernkiez eG, Ostseeplatz eG, Laborgh Investment GmbH, CHORA conscious city, Technische Universität Berlin, Deimel Oelschlaeger Architekten, weberbrunner architekten ag, Brandschutz Akademie Berlin
This event takes place as part of a grant from Built by Nature.
