Europan Germany

Scale 
XL / L

Team composition 
architect/urbanist/landscaper 

Location
Kassel, Wolfsanger Nord

Population
ca.  203.479 (2021)

Study site
ca. 195 ha

Project site
ca. 25,5 ha

Site proposed
City of Kassel

Actors involved
City of Kassel

Landowners
City of Kassel (undeveloped areas), WOHNSTADT Stadtentwicklungs und Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Hessen mbH, numerous private owners

Exercise
The competition task is to show in an exemplary way what innovative, experimental, dense, ecologically and socially sustainable housing construction on the outskirts of the city can look like. The search is on for a model, new, affordable and mixed housing with a wide variety of housing models that simultaneously takes climate protection and adaptation into account.

Kassel is located in the geographical centre of Germany and is the third largest city in Hesse with a population of about 200,000. In recent years, the city has experienced dynamic development, which is reflected both economically and in rising population figures. Kassel's housing market is characterised by rising rents and property purchase prices. Housing supply, especially for low-income households, has deteriorated and there is an increased need for affordable housing.

The major challenge for the city of Kassel is to provide the necessary housing on the one hand and to achieve the desired climate targets on the other. The previously undeveloped northern city fringe area in the Wolfsanger/Hasenhecke district is earmarked for building development. The focus is on the approx. 15-hectare area currently used for agricultural purposes and the adjacent 1960s residential area to the south with high-rise buildings and building towers covering an area of approx. 10.5 hectares.

The particular challenge in terms of urban development and open space planning lies in the balancing act between the development of a new residential quarter with a new formulation of a qualified "green" settlement end and the interlocking with the existing settlement context and the adjacent landscape. This requires both a sustainably conceived and at the same time dense, innovative and experimental housing construction as well as the exploitation of internal development potential through possibilities for internal densification and improvement of the living environment in the existing neighbourhood.

Typ of commissioning
The city is open to the idea of working with the competition teams (e. g. mandate for an urban plan) on the upcoming planing steps.

Site visit and Questions Colloquiumt: 28 April 2023, time: 14h-18h, Meeting point: at the corner of Ihringshäuser Straße/Linderweg

Registration at CharlieLouise.Bosch@kassel.de