© IBA Hamburg GmbH / Johannes Arlt
Building cooperatives create living space for their own use. Often, these projects have a particular ecological or social focus and are supported with funds from the City of Hamburg. The members of a building cooperative are directly involved in the planning and construction process and thus, generally, identify more strongly with their construction project and become involved in district life. This strengthens neighbourhoods and often brings innovative impulses into play. Examples include car-free housing, passive house standards, neighbourhood rooms, green roofs, inclusive housing or wooden construction.
There is a financial advantage for owners here and also an opportunity to realise their own ideas and live in an active community. Building cooperatives are, as a rule, realised in the form of a separate small cooperative or in cooperation with a traditional cooperative. Privately financed rental housing units are also possible.
Because of the positive effects of building cooperatives, it is the aim of the City of Hamburg to increase their proportion in new districts. In the project areas of the IBA Hamburg, in particular in Wilhelmsburg and Oberbillwerder, in each case up to 20% of the residential construction could be realised by building cooperatives.
The 1980s
is when the first building cooperative in Hamburg was founded.
200
is the current number of building cooperatives in Hamburg.
(as of 2023)
Since 2010
the Hamburg Building Cooperative Prize has been awarded to outstanding building groups.
Suggested reading:
Building cooperative prize brochure (German)
“Building cooperatives stand for the good life, self-determination and community spirit in everyday living; they also offer residents the outstanding quality of life that they have earned through time-intensive and high-resource-absorbing project development. They are not, however, “black holes” in the urban or rural landscape; they give the city as much as they take from it, or even more.”
ROBERT TEMEL
The Agency for Building Cooperatives has been the central port of call since 2003 for everyone who is interested in construction as part of a building cooperative. The agency employees will support you from the initial idea all the way to realisation. They will explain to you how the process works on the administrative and financial levels, how you can find a suitable cooperative and where there are plots available. The agency cooperates with experienced architects and construction managers who safeguard the interests of each group.
In the Agency for Building Cooperatives’ contact exchange you can get to know and network with future builders and owners. You can find offers from existing building cooperatives there and search requests from interested individuals or small groups: Baut zusammen – die Kontaktbörse der Agentur für Baugemeinschaften. (only german)
Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg
Agentur für Baugemeinschaften
Neuenfelder Straße 19
21109 Hamburg
Here, existing building cooperatives can find plots on offer in the IBA project areas. We are happy to answer any questions relating to tendering and the application process (only German). Please note that we do not mediate between cooperatives and individuals. The Agency for Building Cooperatives is your point of contact for this (see above).
Building in a cooperative is cheap but the planning process was demanding. Collective decisions had to be taken. For us, this led to a lively and constructive culture of debate. At the same time, we were able to share responsibilities, risks and anxieties (and gummy bears). When we decided on a building cooperative, our friendship circle expanded. There is always someone there for you and we help each other out, for example, with accepting packages, watering the flowers or lending a cup of sugar. And we like to celebrate together. We live with families, pensioners, couples and individualists. Groups are often involved in district life, particularly with refugees. Here in Wilhelmsburg, life is good. It is close to the centre, it is quiet, but you still have (nearly) everything you need. Wilhelmsburg has a large alternative culture, opportunities for exercise and friendly bars. The Schlöperstieg is in a wonderful location, a real argument in favour of the micro-location.
The Schröder / Bauer family
