Communal living : a contemporary adaptation of Berlin's 'Gründerzeit' buildings in the 21st century
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2020
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Abstract
"With the beginning of the 21st century, Berlin and many other industrial capitals are experiencing growing interests in alternative living models, such as co-living. [...] While a number of innovative pioneer projects have been arising within various cities over the past decades, the main housing markets are only adapting slowly towards these paradigm shifts. As a result, a severe lack of contemporary adaptation within residential architecture is experienced today and urban housing structures lack spaces in which residents can come together, share their daily lives and resources with each other (Kries et al. 2017, 41). [...] With about one quarter (27%) of Berlin's population living in tenement buildings, built before 1918 (Berlin.de 2011), a main challenge and at the same time of great impact, would be a contemporary adaptation of old domestic tenement buildings within the city. The appearance and urban life of Germany's capital is shaped by tenement buildings from the Gründerzeit era, erected during the time of the industrialization. They hold great cultural and historic values for the city and its residents and offer various spatial qualities that are no longer to be found within new rise buildings. However, with major changes occurring in our modern living models, these building structures with its emergence of around one hundred years ago, do not fully meet contemporary needs any more and lack spaces in which residents can come together, allowing them to be part of a community. Through a qualitative and contemporary adaptation of such buildings, the values of their old construction and their inimitable charm could be preserved and at the same time constructive living solutions for the contemporary urban lifestyle could be created. This thesis therefore aims with its research, to investigate the development and relevance of co-living in the 21st century, in order to understand contemporary needs of urban societies. It furthers seeks to find qualitative solutions for the implementation of communal spaces into Berlin's existing Gründerzeit tenement buildings, with the aim to make use of a widely available resource. This practice intents to create high qualitative urban living spaces that meet society's demands for community life and which simultaneously promotes the differing lifestyles and needs of today's society."