As part of the major Kirchheim 2030 project, a small eco-quarter is also to be created in the community. Two rows of single-family houses and two multi-family houses made from ecological raw materials are planned between Staatsstraße 2082 and Heimstettener Moosweg, half of which will be given as condominiums and half of them as rental apartments.
The quarter should become an example of sustainable building, all materials should be degradable. “Possible building materials are wood, cork, hemp, clay, sheep’s wool, but also recycled materials,” explains the Kirchheim mayor Maximilian Böltl (CSU). The goal is that the houses can be composted after their life cycle. The durability of the buildings does not differ from conventionally built houses.
Sustainability should not just be limited to construction. With the help of geothermal energy, heat pumps or solar power, the houses should get a climate-neutral heat supply and have a good ecological balance. There should also be charging stations for e-bikes and e-cars. “It is a holistic, well-thought-out, ecological concept,” says Böltl proudly. Local trees and bushes as well as areas for self-cultivation of fruit and vegetables are planned for the open areas of the site.
The construction will be taken over by a private investor, the housing association Deutsches Heim. This means that the community does not incur any costs. “We want to show that green and economical building are compatible,” explains the managing director of the housing association Michael Zaigler. In return for the approval of an ecological construction method, the municipality of Kirchheim has granted building rights on the site. “The community does not have to invest anything, we are just a source of inspiration,” emphasizes Böltl. Nevertheless, the apartments would be offered at fair and affordable rents.
Initially, only a letter of intent was signed by representatives from both sides, not a contract. A few more years will pass before the quarter is completed. The building should be open to the public until the State Garden Show in 2024 – but it will not be finished until much later.