In a new building next to the old signal box on Bismarckstrasse near the main railway station, the municipal utility subsidiary GBO Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft mbH Offenbach now wants to offer such communal housing projects a home. It is intended for people who, for example, want to live together as an integrative group, with different generations and with people who have common interests. Such groups can now apply for the new building.
"It's good that our municipal housing association is not only creating new living space here, but is also thinking about people who want to live together with others. Such projects usually make particularly efficient use of the available space and are good for social cohesion in our city. That's why it's great when they can find a home here with us," says Martin Wilhelm, Head of Social Affairs and Chairman of the GBO Supervisory Board. "The Stellwerk is a gem that has degenerated into a dingy corner in recent years," adds Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of Building. "Once a new residential building and a new park have been built here, this former wasteland will improve the quality of life in the entire neighborhood."
Proposals for the size and layout of the building on the site were collected in a competition, which was decided on Friday. Gerstner Kaluza Architektur GmbH was chosen as the winner by the jury for its design. The jury was made up of Ruben Lang from the City of Offenbach's Design Advisory Board, Marion Rüber-Steins, Head of Urban Development at the Office for Planning and Building, and Daniela Matha, responsible for the entire real estate division of Stadtwerke, as expert judges.
Competition was preceded by public participation
"In terms of urban planning, the design by Gerstner Kaluza Architektur GmbH is convincing as a new prelude to the Wilhelminian-style development on Bismarckstrasse," says Ruben Lang. "The design is an excellent example of how the basic structure offers the greatest possible flexibility of use," says Marion Rüber-Steins. Daniela Matha sees a lot of scope for the future tenants: "The architects' plan allows for the best possible response to the needs of the future residential groups thanks to its building structure."
The competition was preceded by a public participation process in 2021, during which ideas for the site and the surrounding area were collected. A public park will be created there by the Office for Planning and Building, while the old signal box is to be used for an as yet undefined public purpose. The interior layout of the residential building is still open. "The future residents can still have an influence here," says Ulrich Lemke, Head of New Construction and Energy Refurbishment at GBO. "The building has a floor area of around 350 square meters, five full storeys and an attic (saddle storey) and is to be built as a PlusEnergy house with a high energy standard."
"Which residential groups will move in will be decided in an application process," explains Özlem Ata, project manager and architect at GBO. The orientation of the interested parties is completely open, and institutional sponsors are also possible. The groups do not have to be living together at the time of application, but can come together for the project. They should have a concept that can last for several years and an idea of how much space they need.
To let interested parties know about the offer, the city of Offenbach is organizing a small series of events at the end of August 2022 on the topic of communal living on the property. This will provide information about the plans for the site and the signal box. All citizens are cordially invited to attend. The city has already been awarded the "Zukunftspreis des Großen Frankfurter Bogens" by the state of Hesse for this combination of experience, urban redevelopment and participation in all aspects of housing. Announcements of the "GFB Summer" events are expected to be published on its own website or on the City of Offenbach's website from June.
Interested residential groups can contact Özlem Ata at oezlem.atastadtwerke-ofde with immediate effect. However, they will need to be patient: the earliest move-in date is planned for the beginning of 2025.