Sustainability in Development and Architecture

Currently, there is just a large green meadow, but in charts and drafts this space has already been marked in yellow. “Wohnen am Campus” is the name of the project that planner Christof Hamm and his colleagues at Adlershof Projekt GmbH are currently working on on behalf of the Berlin Senate’s Department for Urban Development: 14 hectares of land are to be developed into a residential area that will broaden the range of accommodation options in the city of science.

Whether the final results will be modern town houses or the multi-story tenements so typical of Berlin is a question that is not only for the real estate salesman to decide. Rather, clients and home builders themselves have the final say here. Hamm and his colleagues, meanwhile, pave the way. “It’s crucial to create a development plan that allows for flexible responses to different requirements”, says Annette Rott, the team’s regional planner. Hence, Adlershof’s real estate experts are currently road-testing a variety of ideas. “It’s immensely useful in this context to be able to draw on the know-how of different specialists, including experts for cross-generational living or people familiar with the specific requirements of particular client groups. This is why we ask architects, investors and other experts for their opinions,” says Hamm. He promptly pulls four different designs out of his drawer. These form the basis for discussions on different development and parcelling options for the area. An investor for student living behind the university institutes is already found.

As far as the bigger picture is concerned, the future development will, of course, have to blend in with the existing urban environment of the city of science, business and media – a crucial aspect that informs the overall planning process at every stage. For Hamm and his colleagues, the motto “neighbourhood comes with responsibilities” is key and also extends to energy-efficient construction methods.

With leading businesses such as Solon and Sulfurcell from the photovoltaic sector close at hand, the issue is a highly topical one at Adlershof. “Solon have fitted their new building not only with photovoltaic systems, but also with elaborate energy-saving technologies in, for instance, their airconditioning and lighting systems“, says Hamm. He hopes that future home builders at “Wohnen am Campus” will be eager to follow Solon’s example.

Tina Heidborn