Concepts, Planning & Documentation

How we support our claims

The Schumacher Quartier is being developed on the basis of concrete plans, expert reports and concepts. On this page, we summarise the key objectives, measures and supporting evidence that underpin our statements on water, energy, mobility, biodiversity, construction and housing.

At a glance

  • Over 5,000 flats planned for more than 10,000 people
  • Around 46 hectares of neighbourhood area
  • A low-car mobility concept with mobility hubs and sharing schemes
  • The ‘sponge city’ principle for rainwater management
  • Buildings constructed using a hybrid timber construction method with a high proportion of timber in the load-bearing structure
  • Promotion of biodiversity through animal-aided design and species-specific measures
    Supply planned via a low-exergy, low-temperature network

Water & Sponge City

The Schumacher Quarter is being planned according to the ‘sponge city’ principle. The aim is to retain, evaporate and allow rainwater to infiltrate on site as far as possible, rather than draining it away quickly.

Planned measures

  • Evaporation beds in street spaces
  • Infiltration basins and infiltration trenches
  • Rainwater retention at neighbourhood level
  • Green roofs on selected buildings
  • Flood prevention measures for heavy rainfall events

Supporting documentation

The information is based on the detailed design for rainwater management within the internal infrastructure, as well as the flood risk assessment for a 100-year rainfall event in the Schumacher Quarter. The technical documentation covers, amongst other things, evaporation beds, infiltration basins, infiltration trenches, green roofs and flood protection measures for heavy rainfall events. Extracts from the underlying planning documents may be viewed on request.

Energy

A joint LowExergy energy concept is planned for the Schumacher Quartier and the neighbouring Urban Tech Republic, which Green Urban Energy GmbH is to implement on our behalf.

Planned components

  • LowEx low-temperature network (approx. 20/40 °C)
  • Geothermal energy
  • Heat pump technology
  • Recovery of waste heat from commercial and industrial sources
  • Photovoltaics
  • Smart grid control system

Planned key figures

  • Share of renewable energy>: 80% in the target framework
  • Primary energy factor: approx. 0.3

Supporting documentation

If required, the energy concept for Berlin TXL and the current concept presentation by Green Urban Energy can be viewed. The documents contain information on the low-exergy network, the share of renewable energy, geothermal energy, heat pumps, waste heat recovery, the smart grid and the planned energy marketplace.

Mobility

The Schumacher Quarter is being developed as a low-car neighbourhood. Mobility options are to be organised primarily through public transport, cycling, walking and sharing schemes.

Planned measures

  • Mobility hubs on the edges of the neighbourhood
  • Car-sharing schemes
  • Bike-sharing schemes
  • Priority for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Reduced parking space allocation compared to standard residential neighbourhoods

Supporting documentation

The information is based on the Schumacher Quarter Charter, the mobility concepts for Berlin TXL and the current project conditions. The documents describe, amongst other things, mobility hubs, sharing schemes, the promotion of walking and cycling, and measures to reduce private motorised transport. These are summarised in the Mobility Concept for the Schumacher Quarter.

Biodiversity & Species Protection

The neighbourhood development takes biodiversity enhancement and species conservation measures into account right from the start. This is based, amongst other things, on the Animal-Aided Design approach.

Planned measures

  • Incorporation of selected target species into open space planning
  • Nesting aids and species-specific habitat structures
  • Green spaces that promote biodiversity
  • Biosensitive lighting
  • Bird protection measures for glazing
  • Biodiversity concepts and monitoring

Supporting documentation

The information is based on the Animal-Aided Design report, the biodiversity strategy and the site-specific guidelines on species protection, biodiversity promotion and biosensitive design. These guidelines form a binding part of the planning process. Developers must demonstrate compliance with these requirements as part of the planning application process; evidence has already been provided for the first development sites. Where required, extracts from the underlying expert reports, strategies and planning documents may be inspected.

Timber& Construction

In the Schumacher Quartier, buildings are being constructed using a hybrid timber construction method. This involves combining timber with other building materials.

Planned measures:

  • Use of renewable raw materials
  • Hybrid timber construction in several building plots
  • Consideration of carbon sequestration in timber as a building material

Supporting documentation

The information is based on the timber construction study, the project documentation for the first building plots and the assessment documentation on the use of hybrid timber construction methods. The documents describe the planned use of timber in the load-bearing structure, the consideration of renewable raw materials, and the project-related assessment of carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas potentials. Where required, extracts from the underlying studies and assessment documents may be consulted.

Important note

Many of the measures and key figures described here relate to plans, objectives, technical concepts, expert reports or projects currently underway. Some of these represent future scenarios and may be subject to change as planning, approval and implementation proceed. The current planning and approval documents shall prevail in each case.