Kleineschholz Quarter, Freiburg (DE)

Our concept integrates a wide variety of living situations and building types, with a focus on low-cost housing. The typological variety of its building structure and the mixed sponsorship of rented flats, owner-occupied buildings and assemblies ensure a desirable social diversity. Families and singles, children, young and old people, locals and new residents live here. Urban craftsmen, self-employed workers and service providers are part of the districts urban development. Together they form a stable, self-regulating social structure consisting of diverse responsibilities, life cycles and local references.

Urban Context

The western edge of the Stühlinger Quarter in Freiburg is characterized by large administrative buildings, which are well frequented during the day, but empty in the evening and on weekends. The urban redevelopment will create dense residential quarters that will allow a diverse and vivid use that enlivens the district and provides social security.
From an ecological, functional and social point of view, the spacious public park in the center of the quarter plays an important role in Freiburg’s urban development. It connects the green zone and promenade between the main cemetery and the southern Eschholzpark and also creates cross-references with the different uses of the surrounding area. The solitaires of the Employment Agency and RiS provide an urban scale and act as spatial cornerstones.

Client: Stadt Freiburg im Breisgau
Urban planning and landscape: Dietrich | Untertrifaller with Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl
Project management: Günther Prechter
Competition: 2019
Planning: 2019-21
Construction: expected from 2022
Area residential: ca. 90.000 m²
Capacity: Residential quarter West 569 apartments, residential quarter East 194 apartments, staff housing estate North 563 apartments, 4 daycare centers, commercial and service, gastronomy

Partner
traffic planning: Stete Planung, Büro für Stadt- und Verkehrsplanung, Darmstadt / rendering: © Dietrich | Untertrifaller – expressiv

Publications
2019 | 05 Architektur Aktuell Quartier Kleineschholz | 02 Badische Zeitung Quartier Kleineschholz | 02 Freiburger Zeitung Quartier Kleineschholz

Urban Planning

The park is in the center of the urban reorganization of the Kleineschholz quarter. To the north, east and south, large buildings border the park: The existing employment agency and the RiS, being which is still under construction, are complemented by the building complex Kleineschholz East block with 194 apartments. As an “urban bridge”, the Lehener Strasse connects the dense residential development of the Stühlinger district with the new residential quarter Kleineschholz West with 569 apartments. The new staff housing estate Kleineschholz Nord with 563 apartments accompanies the street and upgrades it to a lively inner-city main access road.

Both residential quarters, in the southwest and southeast of the area, integrate various forms of living arrangements, building types and structural densities. The greater room height of the ground floor zone enables flexible use. Thus, in addition to apartments on the mezzanine, small businesses, service providers, shops and restaurants can also act as important “urban attractors”. All entrances are oriented towards the adjoining streets and create a high pedestrian frequency in the public space.

Car traffic is conducted in a neighborhood street with an inner-city character. In the future, only cyclists, inline skaters and pedestrians will use the former expressway to cross the park. The multi-story car park in the south and the underground garage in the north are accessed from outside the quarter.

Residential Quarter West – City of Gardens and Gardeners

The “Residential Quarter West” is given the character of a garden and gardening town. 5-8-story point houses, rows and townhouses (stacked maisonette apartments) form a chain of green residential courtyards. As semi-public spaces, they divide the quarter into social neighborhoods with 300 people each. Increasingly small buildings with town villas and point houses facing east also open up spacious views into the greenery for the second and third row of apartments. An urban square with local suppliers creates the social center of the “Residential Quarter West”. The adjoining common meadow serves as space for leisure activities and communal gatherings. Greenhouses on the roofs offer meeting opportunities and individual recreation spaces. Additional garden areas are being created on the western edge of the settlement and on the roof of the multi-story car park.

 

Residential Quarter East – Typological Mix

The block in the southeast of the area is composed of similar building types. The buildings of the Residential Quarter East are two stories higher and show a strong presence at the intersection of two main roads. Two inner courtyards create semi-public spaces for the residents. A “Piazza” offers high quality of stay with Restaurants and cafés. During the breaks, employees of the city administration, residents, hospital staff and pupils gather here.

 

Residential Quarter Nord – Staff Housing

The staff housing estate for the university hospital forms an almost closed space along Lehener Straße. Intelligent soundproofing concepts upgrade the southern location along the street to use it for high-quality apartments. With their balcony-like circulation and protected, quiet courtyards, the U-shaped pergola houses offer casual locations for communication and gathering.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

The selection of all building materials is based on overall ecological and economic criteria. A high proportion of timber construction ensures a positive CO2 balance. Evaluation criteria are grey energy, local origin, availability, durability and absence of harmful substances during service life and disposal. The objective is to optimize the building over its entire life cycle. Planting and water areas, together with green roofs, facades and parking areas, improve the microclimate.