Babenhausen conversion: From military zone to model sustainable neighbourhood

As part of the urban redevelopment project management NH ProjektStadt is overseeing the conversion of a 60-hectare barracks area in Babenhausen into a model for sustainable neighbourhood development. Building on the award-winning urban planning idea in the European architecture and urban design competition, EUROPAN 9, a framework plan for the area was put together by an interdisciplinary team of specialist planners that couples ecological and social quality with high investment efficiency. Infrastructure, buildings and recreational facilities are all looked at paying attention to their entire lifecycle. Intelligent loop and management systems have been incorporated as well as an intensive reuse of existing structures. The framework plan was awarded the silver certificate for "sustainable town district” by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen). This certification for a former military base is unique in Germany. For investors the close cooperation between the town and the Federal Agency for Land and Property (BImA) as the land owner, offers security, as does the politically unanimous decision to transform the former military barracks into a model neighbourhood exemplary for sustainable development. The project steering by NH ProjektStadt includes the coordination of all planning and discussion processes as well as policy consultancy and assistance with public relation work and investor liaison.

Sequence of events

• 2007 Termination of use by U.S. Army; contract awarded to NH ProjektStadt
• 2007/08 Participation in the European architecture and urban design competition EUROPAN 9
• 2009 Political decision on quality objectives to develop the area to become a model for sustainability in terms of economics, working life and living
• 2010 Creation of a framework plan with an interdisciplinary team made up of different professional firms. Political decision 2011
• 2011 silver certification during the GSBC pilot phase of certification for sustainable neighbourhood development; beginning of the procedure for approval of the site by the Federal Agency for Land and Property (BImA - Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben)

Objective
Converting the former barracks area into a sustainable neighbourhood district with certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Legal Basis
Contract with the town of Babenhausen

Location
Town of Babenhausen (Darmstadt-Dieburg), situated on the fringe of the main town

Scale
60 hectares

Financing
Planning and management of the project were funded under the "Urban Redevelopment in Hessen" programme (Stadtumbau in Hessen) and with federal state funding from the Hessian conversion programme.

Monika Fontaine-Kretschmer
Tel. 069 6069-1473
Fax 069 6069-51473
monika.fontaine-kretschmer@nh-projektstadt.de

Dr. Jürgen Schmitt
Tel. 069 6069-1168
Fax 069 6069-1446
juergen.schmitt@nh-projektstadt.de