between - spatial - use: Visions for the Surrounding countryside

The project shows the possibilities rural communities have to develop in a sustainable and self-sufficiently way and how self-organization and social innovation could be strengthened. Therefore a circular, local economy, cooperative networks, the integration of important actors and common targets are the base for a structural transformation.

The project focuses on two case studies: the main village Weilbach with about 1600 citizens and the small village Gönz with about 60 citizens. The project shows how targets as the energy and construction transition could be realized through independent, local and sustainable energy and building material. This transition is implemented by coproductive structures which create a link and synergies between the villages and is an important base of social innovation and sustainable and common good oriented development. \r\nThe design suggests two structural building blocks which are important as a process engine to reach the design targets. One of them is the cooperative sawmill. This typology enables local timber processing and contributes to sustainable and regional development. Through different important actors a cooperation could be a structure for funding and also for social innovation. The second building block is a coproductive biogas plant. The biogas plant should make a contribution to the energy transition and self-sufficiency to strengthen resilience against energy crisis. The design shows different suggestions and solutions which start in a large scale context within the landscape and end in small architectural measures. One experimental field for the landscape is combining agroforest with grazing area and saving the access to streams and the resource freshwater for humans as well as for grazing cattle. The concept property+ integrates ground property as a valuable resource in a circular economy to enable a continuous management through short, middle and long term uses. An inner development is planned with programmatic and needs-oriented functions. One example is to create a common yardstructure with common types of housing. Another example is to establish an integrated and subsidiary housing community for people with disabilities or dementia. It‘s important to offer these people a suitable home in a familiar habitat in close proximity. Furthermore the challenge of house and apartment fluctuation is positively affected.