Employees of ESWE Versorgungs AG and the Building Department of the State Capital of Wiesbaden were also on site, as were internal and external project participants.

By the end of 2028, a total of 222 apartments—spread across eight apartment buildings—will be built in three construction phases, with a total living area of approximately 18,529 square meters.

The first construction phase is oriented toward the railroad line and forms the southern boundary of the new residential neighborhood. In this phase, 74 rental apartments will be built, distributed across three apartment buildings. Two cluster buildings, each with six apartments for communal living, are also planned. This construction phase is characterized by sophisticated, modern, and sustainable architecture featuring wooden facades. The architectural firm responsible is ROSA WIRTZ ARCHITEKTUR PARTG MBB. The second construction phase faces Kostheimer Landstraße. In this phase, GWW is building 115 rental apartments in three multi-family buildings. Additionally, plans include a commercial unit facing Kostheimer Landstraße, a co-working office, and the new GWW AKK branch office. The second construction phase was developed by ENDERSWEISSBANGERT Architekten + Stadtplaner Partnerschaft mbB BDA. The third construction phase comprises 33 rental apartments, distributed across two apartment buildings. This phase also includes duplex apartments. The front building in the center of the neighborhood houses a two-story, four-classroom daycare center, and the neighborhood square in front of it features a water play area and seating that offers a pleasant environment for spending time. The architectural firm KISSLER EFFGEN + PARTNER Architekten PartG mbB is responsible for the design.

Thomas Keller, managing director of GWW, explains: “We are building a sustainable neighborhood here for the future and providing housing for the general public. I am particularly pleased that we were able to install large-scale photovoltaic systems on the flat roofs, thereby providing tenants with affordable electricity. The new neighborhood near the community center is also car-free, which further enhances the quality of life for residents.”

Gert-Uwe Mende, mayor of the state capital of Wiesbaden, emphasizes in his speech: “The more than 200 apartments being built here help create new housing in the city and meet housing demand. In this way, the project makes an important contribution to alleviating the strain on the tight housing market. Apartments of various sizes and suited to different life situations are being offered with the goal of helping as many people as possible find a suitable home. It is particularly important to me that at least 30 percent of the residential units are built as subsidized rental housing.”

Andreas Kowol, Head of the Department of Construction and Transportation, explains: “With this new development, which is being built in the immediate vicinity of GWW’s ‘Quartier am Bürgerhaus’—from which the project takes its name—a modern space for social interaction, culture, and community life is being created. By relying exclusively on heat pumps that draw their electricity from our own photovoltaic system, among other sources, we are establishing a future-oriented energy supply. Needless to say, the publicly accessible parking lot features electric vehicle charging stations.”

To supply heat to the neighborhood, ESWE is constructing an innovative cold district heating network. Using 120 geothermal probes at depths of up to 110 meters, natural environmental heat is extracted from the ground and transported to the buildings via a distribution network. There, decentralized heat pumps adjust the energy to the required temperature level. In the summer, the system works in reverse: Excess heat from the buildings is fed into the network and stored in the ground.

“The cold local heating network combines climate protection, security of supply, and a high level of comfort. This allows us to supply the neighborhood with heating and cooling efficiently, sustainably, and fossil-fuel-free year-round,” says Ralf Cohrs, authorized signatory at ESWE Versorgungs AG.

All buildings feature extensive green roofs, which serve as retention roofs for rainwater management and support local flora and fauna. Rainwater is channeled through troughs and swales on the property to allow it to infiltrate the ground. The rainwater thus benefits the plants in the residential neighborhood and does not overload the public sewer system during heavy rainfall events. Furthermore, the neighborhood is planned to be car-free; all parking spaces are located in the multi-story parking garage at the neighborhood entrance, naturally equipped with sufficient electric vehicle charging stations. To promote alternative mobility concepts, car-sharing, electric cargo bike, and bike-rental services will be available.

Dr. Patricia Becher, Commissioner for Social Affairs, explains in her speech: “I am very pleased that we have a reliable partner in GWW, which is working with us to develop this neighborhood with a shared focus on affordable housing and the needs of future residents. In addition to a sustainable energy and heating supply, concrete amenities for daily life and community interaction are being created: a neighborhood plaza with a water feature and seating areas, sports facilities on the roof of the multi-story parking garage, and a daycare center. This will not only create new living space but also a neighborhood where housing, childcare, physical activity, and social interaction are all considered as a whole.”

The GWW branch office for the districts of Amöneburg, Kastel, and Kostheim will also find a new home in the Quartier am Bürgerhaus, meaning that the points of contact for tenant concerns will be right nearby—another benefit for residents.

A total of 67 apartments for low-income residents are being funded by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transportation, Housing, and Rural Affairs. The proportion of subsidized housing in the project is 30.2 percent.

Hesse’s Minister of Economics and Deputy Minister-President Kaweh Mansoori explains: “Housing must be affordable. That is one of my key political goals. The ‘Quartier am Bürgerhaus’ shows how this can be achieved: Here, a livable neighborhood is taking shape with beautiful apartments at fair rents, planned and built to high social and environmental standards. Social housing means more than just a roof over one’s head. It provides people with security, creates space for family, friendship, and community, and thus lays the foundation for social participation and strong cohesion. This is exactly how we must continue to plan and build: affordably, sustainably, and with an eye toward the needs of local residents. The “Quartier am Bürgerhaus” is a powerful example of this and shows how social housing builds a better future.”

In 2015, the state capital of Wiesbaden decided to construct a new shared community center to replace the missing and outdated community centers in the districts of Kastel and Kostheim. The Building Authority of the State Capital of Wiesbaden is responsible for the planning and execution of the project.

This new building, which is being constructed in the immediate vicinity of GWW’s “Quartier am Bürgerhaus”—the complex that gives the project its name—will create a modern space for social interaction, culture, and community life. Flexible event and seminar rooms allow for a wide range of uses. The centerpiece of the building is the approximately 765-square-meter event hall on the ground floor. Events for up to 800 people can be held there. For smaller and medium-sized events, club rooms, a multigenerational meeting space, and a “green open space” on the upper floor are available. 

Clubs, associations, and the adult education center from both Kastel and Kostheim will all find a home in the new community center.

The new Kastel-Kostheim Community Center creates a new, identity-forming space—a commitment by the state capital of Wiesbaden to strengthening local clubs, volunteer work, and the residents of Kastel and Kostheim.

Andreas Rettig, Director of the Building Department, specifically addresses the community center—which is also currently under construction—in his remarks: “I am delighted that, with the new community center for the districts of Kastel and Kostheim, we are erecting a sustainable and future-oriented building for the residents. By using ecologically certified building materials and adhering to the State Capital of Wiesbaden’s guidelines for sustainable construction, we are ensuring a pleasant and cozy atmosphere that invites people to linger.”