Future of living: TU Berlin shows innovative concepts for single-family homes

Future of living: TU Berlin shows innovative concepts for single-family homes

Architecture students at the Technical University of Berlin today opened an exhibition on the redesign and conversion of single-family home areas. Under the title “CO-MAKABI practices of sharing in single-family homes,” the master’s students, led by Prof. Nanni Grau, present innovative designs for the further development of existing living structures. This initiative is particularly relevant because the single-family home is the most popular form of housing in Germany and 53% of the population express the desire to live in one. There are currently over 16 million single-family homes in Germany, which make up around half of the total housing stock, which places the project in a broader social context. Although the average occupancy of 1.8 people per single-family home is relatively low, the number of these homes has been steadily increasing by approximately 100,000 per year over the past two decades. However, these developments have come under criticism due to the climate crisis and the lack of living space as well as the high material, energy and land consumption of conventional single-family homes.

The master studio Co-MaKaBi sees a future-oriented solution to the challenges of single-family homes in dividing and transforming existing structures. Instead of building new single-family homes, students research the qualities of the current building stock as well as everyday sharing practices in Berlin districts such as Mahlsdorf, Kaulsdorf and Biesdorf. The aim is to work with residents to develop new models of coexistence based on shared use and spatial flexibility. Innovative approaches should help to avoid new soil sealing and to combine energy renovation concepts with adaptable spatial solutions.

Alternatives to conventional living

The aim of the exhibition is to present alternative forms of financing and models that set themselves apart from traditional ownership structures. This shows a sensitive approach by the students in order to gain the trust of the residents; older people in particular seem to show more room for new concepts. The “More Than Family Houses” project examines the street as a collective space. Work is underway to create new meeting areas by converting garages and integrating balconies. Furthermore, the design focuses on “The house in the countryside!” to promote biodiversity in suburban areas, while the “Navel” design transforms unused remaining areas into communal spaces.

These approaches could contribute to solving the current housing crisis by highlighting the social, economic and environmental benefits of communal living. In this context, Diana Lind, author of “Brave New Home”, calls for the courage to explore alternative forms of living, as traditional single-family homes not only cause high costs, but also promote social isolation and segregation.

The role of communal living

The trend towards communal living has increased in many cities, including the Hamburg metropolitan region. In Lüneburg, for example, there is a constant increase in demand for alternative forms of living. This reflects a growing need for community and sustainable lifestyles. Projects such as “City of the Future 2030+” support social and sustainable housing, with renovations and conversions also being viewed as sensible alternatives to demolition and new construction.

Although communal living offers many advantages, the concept also faces some challenges, such as integration into existing urban structures and legal hurdles that often make new housing projects difficult. Innovative ideas and the move towards a new understanding of space and coexistence could pave the way to a more livable future. Building policy could create crucial opportunities for intervention and pave the way for alternative housing concepts.

Overall, the paradigm shift towards communal and sustainable living is more than a trend - it is necessary to meet the requirements of a changing society and improve the quality of life in urban areas. The commitment of the Berlin architecture students could serve as a model for other cities that also have to deal with pressing housing issues. In this sense, the “Single-family homes for everyone!” project stands out! emerged as a laboratory to advance the critical practice of transforming existing settlements.

[tu.berlin] reports that the transformative potential of single-family homes lies in sharing and communal living. A view that is also supported by [colivingswitzerland.ch] by emphasizing the need for new living concepts in the current housing crisis. At the same time, it is important that [leuphana.de] emphasizes the importance of social interaction and community in residential projects, as these could contribute significantly to human and environmental sustainability.