Towards a “Freiburg Model” of Housing for the Common Good? Fostering Collaborative Housing in Urban Development

This comprehensive research article, published in October 2024 in the Urban Planning Journal, explores an innovative housing development project known as "Kleineschholz" located in Freiburg, Germany. The authors, Benedikt Schmid and Cathrin Zengerling from the University of Freiburg, along with Carola Fricke from Saarland University, focus on the project's emphasis on collaborative housing and its orientation towards the common good.

The Kleineschholz development aims to establish a housing district that prioritizes community benefit over profit. Situated in Freiburg's Stühlinger district, the project is set to create approximately 500 residential units on a 77,500m² site. Uniquely, this initiative is being executed exclusively through collaborative housing organizations, steering clear of profit-driven developers.

The project employs concept-based tendering as the main method for land allocation to collaborative housing groups. The municipality of Freiburg is actively engaged with these organizations, facilitating ongoing dialogue through regular meetings and workshops. A significant feature of this engagement is the "Pavilion for All," a community meeting space that acts as a networking hub for various housing initiatives.

Innovative Features A notable aspect of the Kleineschholz project is its land offering strategy, which primarily utilizes leasehold models to mitigate speculation. Furthermore, at least 50% of the residential space is mandated to be subsidized rental apartments, ensuring affordability. The city also contributes considerable financial backing, providing €6 million specifically designated for the construction of subsidized housing.

Despite its promising framework, the project faces several challenges. High construction costs coupled with rising interest rates pose significant financial hurdles. Additionally, some housing groups have expressed concerns over municipal regulations, deeming them too restrictive. There is also a limited ability to transfer the project's model due to the necessity for public land ownership and the high resource demands associated with such developments.

The Kleineschholz project marks a significant shift from traditional profit-oriented housing development. It serves as an experimental model rather than a universally applicable solution. The lessons learned from this project are valuable for urban planning practices aimed at fostering collaborative housing. However, its success is closely tied to Freiburg’s unique socio-economic context, characterized by a wealthy and academically inclined population, as well as a robust tradition of collaborative housing initiatives.

This study contributes to the wider discourse on transformative planning practices and the role of municipalities in facilitating collaborative housing developments. While the project showcases innovative methods for creating common-good-oriented housing, its exceptional nature underscores both the potential and the limitations of replicating such initiatives in different contexts across Europe.