Marthas Insel is a residential quarter in central Kiel, Germany, on a 14,000-square-metre site between Sophienblatt, Marthastraße and Kiel Central Station. The wider development combines rental housing, micro-apartments and privately owned homes. 2
The project developer is BIG-BAU Projekt- und Stadtentwicklung. The Kieler Wohnungsgesellschaft (KiWoG), Kiel’s municipal housing company, owns and manages the publicly subsidised rental homes within the development. The City of Kiel acquired this housing, which was intended to expand the supply of affordable homes. 23
KiWoG’s share comprises 104 subsidised apartments in four-storey buildings, with up to 29 homes per building. The apartments serve a range of household types and needs; 25 are described as barrier-free or wheelchair-accessible. The buildings were designed to the KfW Efficiency House 55 standard. 2
Construction of the wider quarter began with a groundbreaking ceremony on 27 May 2020. A topping-out ceremony for the KiWoG homes took place in August 2021, and the quarter was ready for occupation in the first half of 2023. BIG-BAU handed over the final 17 apartments to KiWoG in March 2023; KiWoG reports that all apartments at Marthastraße 10, 12, 14 and 17 have been let. 23
The project’s launch was associated with BIG-BAU managing partner Dr. Marc Weinstock and KiWoG managing director Markus Reutershan, who took part in the handover of the first apartments. 3 KiWoG was founded in 2019, according to a report on the project. 4