Vauban, Freiburg, Germany Delivering Better Places: Visual Case Study 7
INTRODUCTION
WHAT ARE CASE STUDIES Case Studies aim to set out thinking, briefing or possible forward action on a specific topic or question. They provide in-depth information and can outline ways to tackle issues. This Case Study has been prepared by A+DS. WHAT IS THIS CASE STUDY ABOUT? This case study has been informed by Delivering Better Places, a collaborative publication from The Scottish Centre for Regeneration, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland and Architecture and Design Scotland, who worked with the University of Glasgow to create a good practice guide. The guide helps public, private and community stakeholders identify good practice and improve their understanding of delivering better places. Delivering Better Places, S Gov, 2011
This case study provides a visual analysis of the Vauban development, Freiburg, Germany presenting text from the Delivering Better Places analysis of the development alongside images which illustrate the findings. The objective of this case study is to provide a visual tool to highlight elements of successful developments from around Europe, to help inspire the delivery of better places for Scotland. The images within this case study have been selected from the Steve Tiesdell Legacy Collection, which can be accessed in full on flickr.
VAUBAN, FREIBURG LOCATION / MASTERPLAN
Site Location
Masterplan
SUMMARY PROFILE
Windfall site, former army barracks, bought by Freiburg City Council and developed in association with a community group, Forum Vauban, as an ecological, low-energy, low-traffic, and low-car neighbourhood – a ‘Model Sustainable District’. Planning approach involved an extended participation exercise, informed by a philosophy of ‘learning while planning’. Development consists of the refurbishment of former barrack buildings, plus new build phases – approximately 80% of which is by self-develop, owner-co-ops (Baugruppen). As a new neighbourhood, it displays innovative ideas in low-energy housing and in car-free/parking-free living, and provides an example of what can be done.
DISTINCT IDENTITY
Does the place have a distinct identity? Vauban has a distinct identity and character. Its signature area is Vaubanallee, with its 60-year old trees, its malllike green space, swale, public spaces and amenities. The Solar Settlement has a more visually distinctive character but is less appealing than the Baugruppen areas.
SAFE AND PLEASANT
Does the place have spaces that are safe and pleasant? The spaces between the buildings are pleasant and leafy. It is a family and child-oriented neighbourhood, with many people walking and cycling about the neighbourhood, and a strong, but not invasive sense of ‘eyes-on-the-street’.
EASY TO MOVE AROUND
Is the place easy to move around (especially on foot) (‘permeable’)? Due to restricted car access, the neighbourhood is readily accessible and has high permeability. All the streets have low car density and usage, and are used as social spaces.
SENSE OF WELCOME
Does the place make visitors feel sense-of-welcome? People, especially children are using the streets and public spaces, the train comes on a frequent routine and there is a sense of life, activity and community within the neighbourhood.
ADAPTABLE
Will the place adapt easily to changing circumstances (‘robust’)? The neighbourhood consists of low-rise, shallow buildings with multiple points of entry possible, and so are robust and adaptable. The neighbourhood has welldeveloped social capital, through the Baugruppen and other organisations.
RESOURCE EFFICIENT
Does the place make good use of scarce resources (‘sustainable’)? The neighbourhood is strongly low car, promoting parking-free and car-free living, which is ecologically sustainable. It is also designed as a ‘district-of-short-distances’, and so many facilities are within easy walking distance. All houses meet the higher than code Freiburg energy standard; a good number of properties also meet Passivhaus and EnergyPlus standards.
Project Information LOCATION:
Vauban lies 3 kilometres to the south of Freiburg city centre – a small university city (population 225,000) in south-west Germany, near Switzerland and France. It is readily accessible by tram from Freiburg city centre (15 minute journey). PROJECT CONTEXT: Urban edge/ brownfield. PROJECT TYPE: Growth. RATIONALE: Environmental exemplar: self-styled as a ‘sustainable model district’. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A mixed use neighbourhood – a ‘district-of-short-distances’, housing 5,000 people in approximately 1,800-units (plus 600 units of student accommodation) and providing some 600 jobs. Facilities include a primary school, kindergartens, shops, supermarkets, community centre, market square, child play spaces, sports field, various local services, plus some cafes and restaurants. Neighbourhood is served by a tram running along the main avenue. PLACE PROMOTER: Development was driven by the City Council (especially by chief planner Wulf Daseking) and by citizen’s group, Forum Vauban. LAND OWNERSHIP: Site was a former military base and was effectively a windfall site, which the City Council bought and through which it could control its planning and development, allowing land release as small plots and favouring transfer to Baugruppen (self-develop, owner-co-ops) rather than corporate housebuilders. DELIVERY METHOD: Masterplan in the form of a B-Plan – a prescriptive design code and regulating plan, which set out a clear set of rules for development. The State acted as land developer and installed extensive public infrastructure, and sold serviced plots to developers – most developers in Vauban were Baugruppen. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: Project conceived in mid 1990s; new build development began on site in 1998 and was completed by 2002; other phases of development are continuing; tram was operational by 2006.
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