Eight years of planning, countless discussions, and a clear vision: The Luisenhöfe project in Aachen is entering the home stretch. Where unused brownfields and old garage complexes currently dominate the landscape, a vibrant, car-free neighborhood that brings generations together will soon take shape. With the submission of the building permit application this year, we are laying the foundation for 160 new apartments, a daycare center, and innovative repurposing of historic buildings. A project that demonstrates the value of patient project development for a sustainable city of the future.
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A participatory milestone: Eight years in search of the best solution
This project required a lot of patience: it took eight years to secure the zoning approval for the Luisenhöfe in Aachen. We are now preparing the building permit application, which is scheduled to be submitted later this year. Construction could then begin next year, finally creating 160 new apartments.
The development of the neighborhood, which is embedded in a historically grown perimeter block development, was preceded by a multifaceted participatory process: While two competitions ensured the urban planning and architectural quality, an open dialogue with the administration, politicians, and neighbors was conducted through a complex participatory process to achieve the best possible results.
A Masterpiece of Urban Planning: Maximum Space with Minimal Land Sealing
Now, on the site of garage yards, a disused company compound, and an empty bunker, a car-free residential neighborhood with short distances to everything is taking shape in a central location. “Here, we can transform valuable inner-city spaces—which were previously used as warehouses, for parking cars, or not at all—into much-needed housing,” says Sylvia Friederich, Head of the Residential Unit at Landmarken. More than a third of the living space is publicly subsidized. A daycare center will also be included; additional commercial spaces and a restaurant are planned. Community amenities are designed to foster a sense of togetherness.
The project’s exceptional sustainability is evident in its land sealing—always a major challenge in housing development. The fact that the sealing ratio increases only minimally, from 46 to 51 percent of the site area, is a major achievement in urban and open-space planning. Only 750 m² of new land needs to be paved—for 23,000 m² of new gross floor area.
A New Life for the Landmark: The Bunker as the Heart of the Neighborhood
The neighborhood’s design is based on the winning entry in the urban planning competition by hector3 architekten and GTL Landschaftsarchitektur. In the competition to transform the World War II bunker, the winning design came from the Aachen-based architecture studio smaa, which treats the protected monument with care, opens it up to the neighborhood, and enables flexible uses. In addition to office space, neighborhood-oriented uses such as a café, a library, communal areas, or co-working spaces are conceivable here.
The mix of housing for singles, couples, and families reflects the neighborhood’s diversity—as does the “Senior Living” component, which can be implemented with lively. A sharing program featuring the neighborhood’s own cargo bikes and electric cars promotes climate-friendly mobility. Carefully integrated into the historically grown neighborhood, the Luisenhöfe will become a sustainably designed oasis in the heart of the city.
