Schumacher Quartier
Berlins newest, sustainable residential district
Berlin is growing and needs affordable housing. That’s why following the closure of Tegel Airport a new, smart residential district is being built on the premises: Schumacher Quartier with over 5,000 apartments for more than 10,000 people.
Schumacher Quartier will make an important contribution to Berlin’s strategy for housing construction and urban development as a sustainable and socially mixed area. In a charter of rights all partners involved have agreed to seven guiding principles:
Homes for everyone
Cities worth living in are vibrant and diverse. Nowhere else can such a variety of small-scale, closely interwoven forms of use, broad spectrum of different buildings, and colorful mix of different populations be found as in Schumacher Quartier. A broadly diversified allocation of construction sites, varied range of housing choices on offer, and requirements specifying finely differentiated design options, for example through the flexible utilization of ground floors are the foundations.
Socially committed for everyone.
Urban neighborhoods thrive on their social mix. Schumacher Quartier offers living space for people from all classes of society and age groups with diverse lifestyles. Particular emphasis is placed on providing living space for people with low income. Half of the homes planned will be built by three city housing authorities, and half of them will be in the sector bound by rent controls. The other construction lots are earmarked for building cooperatives, construction groups, and various forms of student accommodation. The residential buildings will support the community and interaction between residents.
Urban space for everyone.
As with the buildings, green areas and public spaces shape the profile of the Quartier. They meet very different demands at the same time: They enable people to experience nature and to spend leisure time in the Quartier, serve as mobility spaces to drive, jog, and relax, and support the underlying use, whether coffee shop, daycare center or housing as approach zones. Squares serve as meeting places and give each resident their space for personal development. A special emphasis is placed on increasing the biodiversity with this ‘green’ configuration in the Quartier.
Education for all.
Schools, daycare centers, youth centers, cultural and educational facilities are anchor points in public life. An education campus providing care services and educational facilities for all segments of the population is emerging at the same as the construction of the first residential buildings. As an open educational landscape, it ensures the attractiveness of Schumacher Quartier and opens up to the urban district. A special pedagogical concept will find its equivalent expression in architecture and reflection in classroom quality.
Sustainability for everyone.
Schumacher Quartier responds to climate change on two levels. As a model project for climate-adapted district planning it applies for example the “sponge city” principle and can thus be better protected against excessive rain and heat. At the same time it attempts to minimize the impact on the climate as much as possible. CO2 reduction, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy sources are specific building blocks on the path towards climate neutrality. The interaction of both climate protection and climate adaptation– approaches becomes outwardly visible in the form of water-retaining open spaces, photo-voltaic systems, timber construction, and shaded roofs, for instance.
Mobility for everyone.
Access to mobility is a basic prerequisite for social participation. In conjunction with its claim to climate-friendly neighborhood planning, Schumacher Quartier emphasizes the interconnection between environmentally friendly mobility services that render the use of a private vehicle unnecessary. “Mobility hubs” bundle together carpooling services and perform functions of mobility logistics. The streets, paths, public squares, and green areas give priority to bicycles and pedestrians and thus become spaces for active mobility, interchange of ideas, and relaxation.
Everyone’s involved.
For an urban district in its conception phase in particular, the involvement of the (future) residents and their interaction with urban society are of huge importance. This relies on the cooperation and encouragement from numerous private and public actors. Right from the start a neighborhood community fosters neighborhoods that function, affords the opportunity for participation, and supports implementing the management of retail trade and mobility. In addition, formats are developed that enable the residents, step-by-step – both temporarily and in the longer term – to make it their own neighborhood.
Homes for everyone.
Cities worth living in are vibrant and diverse. Nowhere else can such a variety of small-scale, closely interwoven forms of use, broad spectrum of different buildings, and colorful mix of different populations be found as in Schumacher Quartier. A broadly diversified allocation of construction sites, varied range of housing choices on offer, and requirements specifying finely differentiated design options, for example through the flexible utilization of ground floors are the foundations.
Socially committed for everyone
Urban neighborhoods thrive on their social mix. Schumacher Quartier offers living space for people from all classes of society and age groups with diverse lifestyles. Particular emphasis is placed on providing living space for people with low income. Half of the homes planned will be built by three city housing authorities, and half of them will be in the sector bound by rent controls. The other construction lots are earmarked for building cooperatives, construction groups, and various forms of student accommodation. The residential buildings will support the community and interaction between residents.
Urban space for everyone.
As with the buildings, green areas and public spaces shape the profile of the Quartier. They meet very different demands at the same time: They enable people to experience nature and to spend leisure time in the Quartier, serve as mobility spaces to drive, jog, and relax, and support the underlying use, whether coffee shop, daycare center or housing as approach zones. Squares serve as meeting places and give each resident their space for personal development. A special emphasis is placed on increasing the biodiversity with this ‘green’ configuration in the Quartier.
Education for all.
Schools, daycare centers, youth centers, cultural and educational facilities are anchor points in public life. An education campus providing care services and educational facilities for all segments of the population is emerging at the same as the construction of the first residential buildings. As an open educational landscape, it ensures the attractiveness of Schumacher Quartier and opens up to the urban district. A special pedagogical concept will find its equivalent expression in architecture and reflection in classroom quality.
Schulraumqualität finden.
Sustainability for everyone.
Schumacher Quartier responds to climate change on two levels. As a model project for climate-adapted district planning it applies for example the “sponge city” principle and can thus be better protected against excessive rain and heat. At the same time it attempts to minimize the impact on the climate as much as possible. CO2 reduction, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy sources are specific building blocks on the path towards climate neutrality. The interaction of both climate protection and climate adaptation– approaches becomes outwardly visible in the form of water-retaining open spaces, photo-voltaic systems, timber construction, and shaded roofs, for instance.
Mobility for everyone.
Access to mobility is a basic prerequisite for social participation. In conjunction with its claim to climate-friendly neighborhood planning, Schumacher Quartier emphasizes the interconnection between environmentally friendly mobility services that render the use of a private vehicle unnecessary. “Mobility hubs” bundle together carpooling services and perform functions of mobility logistics. The streets, paths, public squares, and green areas give priority to bicycles and pedestrians and thus become spaces for active mobility, interchange of ideas, and relaxation.
Everyone’s involved.
For an urban district in its conception phase in particular, the involvement of the (future) residents and their interaction with urban society are of huge importance. This relies on the cooperation and encouragement from numerous private and public actors. Right from the start a neighborhood community fosters neighborhoods that function, affords the opportunity for participation, and supports implementing the management of retail trade and mobility. In addition, formats are developed that enable the residents, step-by-step – both temporarily and in the longer term – to make it their own neighborhood.
Interactive map
Explore Schumacher Quartier.
