R50 - cohousing
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
R50 – cohousing is a joint building venture project in Berlin-Kreuzberg. It was initiated by the architects during the course of a concept-based award procedure for building plots and implemented in close cooperation with the clients. The building proposal is founded on a clear urban design position, robust and precisely detailed architectural design, and both a collective and individual process of occupancy and planning.
Photography: Andrew Alberts (1), Steffen Jagenburg (2-6)
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
The building for the R50 joint building venture consists of 19 distinct apartments and large rooms and areas for all residents. It is situated in a post-war residential neighbourhood in Berlin-Kreuzberg, which comprises diverse housing developments. The six-storey detached building has three apartments on each level, as well as a basement and an attic. The reinforced concrete structure was designed to minimum requirements. Combined with the reduced and partly exposed infrastructure, the independent modular timber facade and apertures specifically developed for this building and the all-around balconies on each level, it provides great flexibility for the layout of floor plans. Meeting the owners´ aspiration for collective and affordable living the architectural concept is based on a robust and simple structure with carefully detailed connections on different scales. Each apartment was developed in an intensive process of consultations, discussions and design. In addition to this process a common standard for fixtures and fittings was developed and defined in collaboration with the building venture, which has resulted in a collective approach to interior fittings whilst allowing individual layouts of the apartments. This structured yet open design process has ranged from extensive participation, self-directed design to self-building of living areas, leading to mutual agreement on the type, location, size and design of spaces shared by residents. So in addition to the all-around balconies, the garden and the covered area in front of the basement, a two-storey community space for multiple uses, a laundry, a workshop and a roof terrace including a summer kitchen were added to the programme and incorporated in the architecture of the building.
Key objectives for sustainability
R50 – cohousing is a new model typology for low-cost and affordable housing offering a maximum capacity for adaptation and flexibility throughout its lifetime. Social, cultural, economic and ecological aspects have been considered equally to define a contemporary sustainable approach to urban living. The building´s construction is based on a load-bearing ferroconcrete skeleton structure, which allowed a free arrangement of the prefabricated wooden walls and façade modules. Adaptations according to changing needs such as apartment sizes and layouts as well as shared spaces are possible without influencing the main building structure. As a renewable, regional and pollutant-free raw material with excellent thermal insulation properties, the use of timber has a positive effect on the eco-balance of the building. It reduces the embodied energy of the building and enables an environmentally compatible deconstruction. The thermal insulation properties of the façade modules have been optimized and the limit set by German Energy Saving Regulations at that time was reduced by 30%. The extensively greened roof protects against overheating and has a positive effect on the microclimate.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The reinforced concrete structure was designed to minimum requirements. Combined with the reduced and partly exposed infrastructure, the modular timber facade with fixed and flexible, outward opening glazed door elements was specifically developed for this building. This combined with the all-around balconies on each level allows a direct dialogue between the building’s architecture and its use. Meeting the owner´s aspiration for collective and affordable living and working, the architectural concept is based on a compact and efficient structure with carefully detailed connections on different scales. It is based on a concrete skeleton with one access and two service cores, an independent timber facade and a suspended steel construction for the all-around galleries. A slightly sunken basement level provides access to the building and merges private and public spaces. The private apartments can be smaller than usual as many utilities like the community space and the roof terrace with a summer kitchen and a winter garden can be jointly used and maintained, which leads to a strong sense of community. The all-around balconies informally connect the apartments on each floor.
Key objectives for inclusion
The project was selected during the course of a concept-based award procedure for building plots, which is an instrument of the municipality of Berlin to sell a building plot not to the highest bidder, but based on a suggested and inclusive concept. This procedure has lowered the overall price/sqm as the price for the land was fixed. Moreover, a refined economic approach to the overall building structure including the circulation as well as the integration of prefabricated elements has helped to manage the building costs. Due to the organisation and financing of the cooperative which didn´t involve profit-oriented investors, the price per sqm was up to 25 per cent cheaper than the usual market price for housing in the inner city of Berlin. All apartments and collective spaces are barrier-free accessible and allow for a multi-generational living scheme.
Results in relation to category
Each apartment and all additional community spaces were developed by an intensive process of consultations, discussions and design. Based on the structural framework the sizes of apartments could be determined and individual requirements accommodated in the floor plans. In parallel to this process, a common standard for fixtures and fittings was developed and defined, which has resulted in a collective approach to interior fittings, the use of materials and some surfaces left unfinished, whilst allowing individual layouts of the apartments. This kind of structured yet open design process has not only allowed for extensive participation, self-directed design and self-building, but has also led to mutual agreement on the type, location, size and design of spaces shared by residents. This includes the generous urban garden, which naturally blends into the landscape of the surrounding 1960s residential neighbourhood, an access ramp leading to a covered area in front of the basement, a laundry, a workshop and a roof terrace with a summer kitchen and a winter garden. The all-around balconies accompany the bright interior spaces and connect the apartments on each floor.
How Citizens benefit
One of the focal points of the project is to relate the need for affordable and collective housing to civil society. Initiated and accompagnied by the architects, the cooperative participated in a concept-based bidding for the building plot launched by the Senate of Berlin to encourage civic engagement for fair and collective housing. Social, cultural, economic and ecological aspects have been considered equally to define a contemporary sustainable approach to urban living while publicly reflecting the process of decision making and planning during the development and realisation of the project. The building plot has no fences and the building integrates itself openly into the gardens of a post-war social housing estate. The double-height, flexible community space is connected to the building´s main access as well as to the surrounding public space and the street. It is a space of private and public encounter and exchange and is used for various semi-open events by the inhabitants, for neighbourhood activities and for other public events.
Innovative character
The innovative character of the project lies in the inclusive approach to urban co-living and a participatory planning process which led to a sustainable and beautiful building. The structured yet open design process has not only allowed for extensive participation, self-directed design and self-building, but has also led to mutual agreement on the type, location, size and design of spaces shared by residents. This includes the generous urban garden, which naturally blends into the landscape of the surrounding 1960s residential neighbourhood, an access ramp leading to a covered area in front of the basement, a laundry, a workshop and a roof terrace with a summer kitchen and a winter garden. The all-around balconies accompany the bright interior spaces and connect the apartments on each floor. R50 – cohousing is a new model typology for low-cost and affordable housing offering a maximum capacity for adaptation and flexibility throughout its lifetime.
