BeTrift, also known as BeTrift in Niederrad, is a large cooperative housing project in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, developed by Wohngeno eG as its second housing project.147 It is located on Triftstraße in the Niederrad district and comprises more than 50 housing units, making it the largest communal housing project in Frankfurt according to the project page.1410
The project combines multigenerational living, affordable housing, and neighborhood-oriented use. Wohngeno describes it as a green multigenerational house open to different age groups and life situations, with around 20–30% of apartments socially subsidized and a cost-conscious construction model that helped achieve lower rents.1 The concept extends beyond private apartments: a central community room opens onto an inner courtyard, and the ground floor includes spaces for socio-cultural use by residents and the surrounding neighborhood.14
BeTrift also emphasizes shared infrastructure and ecological mobility. The building includes a underground garage with car-sharing spaces, bicycle parking, wide access galleries, a shared roof terrace, and areas for urban gardening.1 Existing communal uses include a free shop called Die Teilerei and an in-house workshop.1 The project is explicitly intended to contribute to social and cultural urban development in the district.14
In the federal model programme “Gemeinschaftlich wohnen, selbstbestimmt leben”, BeTrift was selected as one of four Hessian model projects because of its “innovative solutions and exemplary effect.”12 The programme was run by FORUM Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen e.V. and funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.1