Leben in der Vorstadt – Living in the suburbs
Village, town, community
In Schorndorf in the Remstal valley, a housing cooperative has been set up to realise the vision of building an ecologically sound community based on solidarity. Sustainable residential buildings will complement a former farmstead on a centrally located site in a heterogeneous setting.
To the north of Schorndorf train station, where commercial buildings co-exist with residential areas and major roads meet the green Remstal cycle path, an ensemble of former residential buildings and adjacent half-timber barns are reminiscent of former village life. This is where RemstalLeben eG has found a place where it will bring together community-based, affordable housing in new eco-friendly buildings with commercial and community uses in the existing buildings.
A design competition held in cooperation with IBA’27 yielded innovative building solutions: four new timber-based residential buildings of up to five storeys in height with straw bale insulation will line what is now the meadow orchard. The flexible building structure caters for a wide variety of housing types to suit the individual lifestyles of the residents, whether they are a family with children, an older couple, a flat share, a person with care needs or a student providing help. In the extended pergolas, on the roof garden, in the meadow orchard or barn, residents can meet for community gardening, garage sales or an evening meal.
Additional space for communal activities will be available in the two carefully restored listed buildings along the street. A canteen that can also be used as an event space, a co-working space and workshops will use the large space in the barn, while guests of residents and travellers can stay overnight in the historical dwelling house.
| Location | Schorndorf |
| Size | 0.45 ha |
| Project kick-off | Proposal in the IBA’27 Network since 2021 |
| + | Space for approx. 80 adult residents, community and commercial spaces |
| Timeline | 2022 Baugenossenschaft RemstalLeben eG founded 2022 Feasibility study: VON M GmbH (Stuttgart) and Atelier Wolfshof Architekten (Weinstadt) 2022 Urban design planning competition: Atelier Kaiser Shen (Stuttgart) 2023 Site purchased 2023 Included as IBA’27 Project 2024 Planned start of construction 2026 Ready to move in |
| Project initiator | RemstalLeben eG |
Contact
Wohnbaugenossenschaft RemstalLeben eG
Lisa Kober; Michael Knödler
info@remstalleben.de
www.remstalleben.de
