FreiburgFreiburg --VaubanVaubanFrom Military Area to Model District

Sustainable Neighbourhood Design - A Communicative Process

Carsten SperlingCarsten SperlingDipl.-Ing. Environmental Sciences

Project Manager & Publishermail at mail at carstensperling.decarstensperling.dewww.carstensperling.dewww.carstensperling.de

Handout for Handout for ParticipantsParticipants of of thethe CIFAL Seminar CIFAL Seminar „„Urban Urban PlanningPlanning and Regeneration: and Regeneration:

Key to Key to TacklingTackling ClimateClimate ChangeChange““Dundee, Dundee, MarchMarch 1717--18, 200818, 2008

1. General Information

2. Process (communicativeplanning & implementation)

3. Energy Concept

4. Mobility Concept

5. Conclusion

Freiburg - Vauban - The Setting

3 km

Central Railway StationCity Center

Black Forest Mountains

N

Vauban - District Map

1000 m

600 m2000 units, 5000 people

Vauban - Development: 1993-2008

S.U.S.I. spicesVauban ...

An An OverviewOverview fromfrom a different a different PerspectivePerspective : : TheThe ParticipationParticipation ProcessProcess

1995:1995: kick off, kick off, acknowledgementacknowledgement , , ideasideas-- participationparticipation structuresstructures establishedestablished-- workingworking groupsgroups disseminatedisseminate sustainable sustainable ideasideas-- initiatives start to initiatives start to refurbishrefurbish 10 10 armyarmy barracksbarracks

1996:1996: alternative alternative conceptsconcepts & & campaigncampaign-- ideasideas -->> firstfirst conceptsconcepts -->> campaigncampaign-- communicationcommunication: : involvinginvolving future future inhabitantsinhabitants-- parallel: parallel: firstfirst mastermaster plan plan completedcompleted

19971997--99:99: implementationimplementation-- thethe firstfirst lots lots areare soldsold : : VaubanVauban becomesbecomes a a resortresort for for „„coco--housinghousing““--projectsprojects-- consultationconsultation : : howhow to to implementimplement sustainable sustainable conceptsconcepts? (e.g. ? (e.g. mobilitymobility c.)c.)-- specialspecial design design topicstopics : : greengreen spacesspaces, , residentialresidential streetsstreets, , neighbourhoodneighbourhood center center

sincesince 2000:2000: evaluationevaluation , , continuationcontinuation-- phasephase 2 and 32 and 3 : : marketingmarketing and design and design topicstopics as as mentionedmentioned aboveabove,,

mastermaster plan plan changeschanges, , tramtram connectionconnection ......-- neighbourhoodneighbourhood (social) (social) workwork : : afterafter thethe pioneerpioneer--phasephase: :

integratingintegrating thethe newnew inhabitantsinhabitants

Vauban - Main Objectives

City of Freiburg Public Participation(Forum Vauban)

2000 housing units (5000 inhabitants)

car-free project combined with • a specific traffic concept and • alternative mobility offers

high quality building spaces for young families on the city’s territory

dense urban design concept

low energy standard for all houses and central co-generation plant

good public transport (incl. new tram)

“green belts” (public space)

short distance: social &commercial infrastructure (child care, school, shops)

diversity: preferences for private builders instead of (big) investors

promotion and support of building within self organized groups (co-building/co-housing groups)

design of special areas for passive houses, preferences for builders with advanced energy concepts

CHP with wood chips

centrally located market place and neighbourhood center

car-free streets (public space) car-free streets (public space)

Vauban - Main Objectives

City of Freiburg Public Participation(Forum Vauban)

„Planningthat learns“

Participation needsgradual planning &

implementation- an evolutionary

process< a solid basis > < innovation >

The Part of Forum Vauban

promoter of sustainable ideas & projects(originally rooted in the environmental movement)

working groups‘ platform

organizing body of the participationprocess - the link between the city ...

... and (future) inhabitants

organizing workshops: e.g. design of the ‘green belts‘, ...

assisting people: e.g. to form co-housing groups, ...

• with permanent office „on site“• with a paid staff and volunteers• with financial support from theCity plus additional funding

• as an interest group (of VaubanCitizens & for Sustainability)

• as an information transfer center(e.g. district magazine since 1996)

• with enthusiasm

How did the Forum work?

organizing festivals, events, ...

Some of the People who gaveProfessonal Support

Forum Vauban was able to form

its own expertise!

EnvironmentalEngineer

LandscapePlanner

SolarArchitect

WaterExpert

Lawyer

Urban Planner

EcologicalBuilding Expert

MobilityExpert

+ Banker

+ ManagerCar SharingAssociation

+ many more

+ PublicationService

The 1996 campaign

get in contact!

Co-Housing-Groups

- advantages

• Cost Savings (up to 30%)

• Influence

• Social contactsBuilding together ...

1. First, a small group of people isdeveloping ideas ...

2. When a concept is set up and the „critical mass“ of 5-10 committed persons is achieved, the group applies for a buildinglot and looks for an architect

3. The City gives an option to the group for 6-12 months.Within this time frame, all remaining questions shallbe solved. The architectcan start with the planning.

In Vauban, about 50 co-housingprojects have been realized.

4. The group is completed and organized (group stucture, responsibilities). The buildinglot is bought from the City and the construction of thenew house can start.

Visible results: Welcome to ...our new home!

Co-housing Projects - Examples

Also single housholds get their building lot

Gerda-Weiler-Street (1st development phase)

C

C

CC

C

C

C

C

C

C

C C

C

C = co-housing project

A typicalresidentialstreet(„neighbourhood“)

C

neighbourhood center

public car park 1

public car park 2

property of the carfree association

VVVVVVVVAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN

AAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

kindergarten

kinder-garten

primary school

SSSS

SSSS

SSSS

Market

S

S

SSSS

S

S = shops and small enterprises

S

S

S

S

S

N

kinder-garten

handcrafts /enterprise

handcrafts /enterprise

Solar Settlement

Planning workshop

The Neighbourhood Center

1999

2006

District Culture ...

Structural Integration

administration

politics

civil society

(1995-2004)

VaubanNeighbourhood

Association

„It‘s a hard piece of work ...“(Roland Veith, Freiburg building dep.)

we need a „long breath“

material aspects - ensure that participation influences the project (it matters!) extra resources needed (otherwise it is „just“ informing & convincing people)

human resources: patience, good will, comprehension, need-based communication,(self-) reflection ...

good structures: participation- administration - politics

courage, faith and trust in an openand (partly) unpredictable process(the opposite of planning)

keep the power of individualmotivation (emotion) alivebut also be professional

keep in contact(despite of all conflicts)

don‘t be afraid!

Leave the Old Patterns!

complaining,demanding

we are not at all recognized

defending,pushing through

people administration

perception

typicalattitude

they have no under-standing for my workand the regulationsI have to deal with

challenge create a positive atmosphere of understanding and build bridgeswhich are strong enough for cooperative action

The People of Vauban ...

„Meta Milieus“ Western Europe Source: 44 Sinus Milieus from 5 Countrieswww.sinus-sociovision.de © Sinus Sociovision

Dominating in Vauban: German Post-Materialistic

Milieu

German Society - The Social Background

The fragile Balance between„Eco Pioneers“ and „Ordinary Citizens“

• Eco-pioneers is needed as „driving forces“

• Participation process in this regard is selective (but not prohi bitive)

• Eco-enclave is not a solution!

• Somehow an anti-fundamentalisticconsensus is needed

• Communication was the key point!

• It was not possible to solveall problems (social, ecological, ...)within one project

The Energy Concept ...

Key points:

1. The Urban Setting

2. Reduction of Energy neededfor heating (Low Energy & Passive House Standard)

3. Alternative forms of EnergySupply (Solar Energy, CHP)

4. Communication

Urban Setting ...

Urban Sprawl counteractsefforts to save energy on the „building level“

Positive aspects of a certain densityor settlement structure

More effects: shops, market, services ...

• Design of houses / density:apartment and terraced houses (3-4 levels), no “single buildings”

Reduction of Energy needed for Heating

• Low energy standard (mainstream):compulsory for all new residential buildings (65 kWh/m 2a, meanwhileby the demand of Federal Law)

• Advanced energy saving techniques(avant-garde):about 200 housing units and some office buildings (about 5500 m 2) have ”passive house” (15 kWh/m 2a) “zero energy” or ”plus energy”standard (houses which produce more energy than they need).

Primary Energy Savingswith the Passive Solar House

The passive solar house-energy flow diagram

(heating)

Passive Solar Gains

Electricity

Internal Gains

Further Energyfor heating / hot water,* e.g. Gas, Wood, Collected Solar Heat, ...

Transmission

Ventilation

Lost heatfrom electricalappliances

Lost heat throughwastewater

Energy

lost throughtransform

ationand transport MIN

MAX

The passive solar house - principles

A very good insulation Very good windows

A good example: the passive house „Wohnen & Arbeiten“, FR-Vauban

South orientation The Ventilation Systemwith heat exchange

„waste air“

fresh air

The passive solar house - principles (2)

The solar settlement - Plus-energy houses

• Co-generation plant (CHP) operating with wood-chips ( 80%) and natural gas (20%) connected with a district’s heatin g grid.

• Thermal solar collectors (some buildings)

-> 80% CO2 reduction through insulation and efficient heat supp ly!

• Electricity: about 30% of the electricity needed in Vaubanis produced on site through CHP and photovoltaic.

Alternative forms of Energy Supply

CHP - Details

Mobility - the Problem

� from 8 mio. vehiclesin the 50s to about50 mio. vehiclestoday

� 80% of the passenger volume is made by motorised modes

� How to tackle the problem at the roots?

Relevant car reduction in the entire districtto the benefit of all inhabitants

Car-free life , but within a flexible system and not compulsory for everyone

Alternative transportation such asgood public transport, car-sharing ...

Good local infrastructure

� No parking space on private property and residential streets

� Cars are parked in a community car park

� Some public parking space on the main axis

� Pick-up and delivery is allowed

� Speed-limit in the residential area is 5 km/h

Vauban Mobility ConceptGeneral idea

Regulation 1: No parking at the doorstep

�� Residents without cars areResidents without cars are exempted from buying a parking lotexempted from buying a parking lotin the community car park (and save money)in the community car park (and save money)

�� But they need to But they need to reserve some space for parking that may be reserve some space for parking that may be needed in future needed in future (according to the state building regulations)(according to the state building regulations)

�� The solution: Association for carThe solution: Association for car --free livingfree living was founded, whichwas founded, which

Regulation 2: The Flexible Car free-Concept

�� bought a (small) piece of landbought a (small) piece of land

�� planned a multiplanned a multi--storey car parkstorey car park

�� proofs for the parking space by proofs for the parking space by signing contracts with carsigning contracts with car--free free householdshouseholds

Until today, the car park is only virtual, Until today, the car park is only virtual, the space is an area for rethe space is an area for re--creationcreation

IIf no space would be left in the existing f no space would be left in the existing car parks, then the association would car parks, then the association would install the first parking lotsinstall the first parking lots nature dome instead of car parknature dome instead of car parka place for community activitiesa place for community activities

Results of a Surveyby Claudia Nobis, Institute of Transportation Resea rch, DLR, Berlin

240240VaubanVauban(households with car)(households with car)

150150VaubanVauban (all households)(all households)

270270FreiburgFreiburg RieselfeldRieselfelddistrictdistrict

427427FreiburgFreiburg (whole city)(whole city)

Cars per 1.000Cars per 1.000inhabitantsinhabitants

AreaArea

Sources: Freiburg office of Population and Statistic s and DLR survey

Vauban has the highest density of Car Sharing vehicl es (20 based in Vauban)

Less Cars – more community …

Passivhausprojekte

Car free Lifestyle ...

Source: German Rail Magazine 01-2005

Feiburg-Vauban:

Capital of the

„German Rail

Mobility Card“

„Of course we could

afford our own car,

but we live better

without having one“

Some final pictures ...

ConclusionConclusion

• Many actors gave their contribution to thesustainable design of the Vauban district

• Commitment is a crucial resource

• Synergies between individual needsand sustainability can be used

• NGOs play an important role

• Have faith and trust in the creativityand the responsibility of your citizens!

• We do not need to be „the best“; but we should bepioneers on the path of sustainability in a way thatothers can learn from our cases and go ahead!

© Forum Vauban e.V. Folie 57

Thank you!

www.vauban.de

www.carstensperling.de

Credits• Text and presentation: Carsten Sperling

• Photographs: Andreas Delleske, Sigrid Gombert, Daniel Schoenen, Carsten Sperling and Archive of Stadtteilverein Vauban

• Bird‘s-eye view (slide 18-19): The City of Freiburg, Building Department

• District maps (slide 4+5): Erich Lutz (www.naturconcept-eco.de)

• Image slide 24: Carla Schönfelder (Öko-Institut, www.oeko.de), Carsten Sperling

• Cartoon slide 25: Franz Grass (Vauban resident)

• Images Energy Concept: Georg Steimer (slide 31+35), Jörg Lange (slide 34) and Andreas Delleske (slide 41, CHP: www.vauban.de/projekte/holzbhkw/techdaten.html)

• Images Mobility Concept: Claudia Nobis

Links (English websites about Freiburg-Vauban and related projects)

• Overview: www.carstensperling.de/english.html

• Practical information: www.naturconcept-eco.de/services/vauban.html

• Documentation of Forum Vauban: www.forum-vauban.de/index-en.shtml

• Sustainable Settlements in Europe (with a special focus on Germany, The Netherlands, Austria):www.sustainable-settlements.net

• Postgraduate Student Network for Sustainable Urban Development, Germany: www.nse-netz.de

Note• This handout is designated for participants of the CIFAL seminar „Urban Planning and Regeneration:

Key to Tackling Climate Change“ (Dundee, March 17-18, 2008) and of the „pre-event“ at Findhorn Universal Hall (March 16, 2008). Please, contact me before using it for other purposes.

Carsten Sperling