• competition urban design ecovillage
  • Hanover, Germany
  • Genossenschaft ecovillage
  • 5 ha, 40.000 m² GFA, 500 units
  • in progress, 2020
  • 2017-ECO
  • masterplan + building design
  • Lydia Oehlwein, Niklas Staack, Jakob Bohlen
  • studiomauer

  • competition 1st prize; polis AWARD 2022 Nomination; German Urban Design Award 2023 Nomination;Real Estate Social Impact Investing Award 2023

ecovillage Hanover

With the development of the ecovillage in Hanover, there is a great chance to make an important contribution to future-oriented urban development. One of the most specific features of the ecovillage, and its guiding principle, is sufficiency. To possess more by sharing more: a highly flexible approach that, here, is not only preached but also practiced. In addition to a co-working space and several workshops, ecovillage also offers common rooms in the buildings and gardens that belong to and can be used by everyone, and there is even a special guest house for visitors to stay the night.

The nucleus of the urban design is the lively village square, that is surrounded and framed by the commons. This is the green heart of ecovillage; where water is being managed, food is being produced and the spirit of community is being lived.

One of the drivers for the development was the ambition to become a CO2-neutral settlement. Everything is built from wood, and the sealing of the surfaces is being minimized as well. Biodiversity is promoted and gray- and rainwater are treated and cleaned with the help of a plant-based sewage treatment system. After being directed into a biotope-like lake, it seeps away and evaporates, or serves the residents to water their gardens.

The mobility concept also sets high goals with regard to future viability: it focuses entirely on local mobility. (local public transport, as well as pedestrian and bike path traffic). In concrete terms, this means only 0.2 parking spaces per residential unit are provided. In return, however, there are generous areas for bicycles, rental stations, handcarts, etc. A direct connection to the light rail system rounds off this concept.

The neighbourhoods, which are connected to each other and to the centre by the commons, consist of differently sized clusters. These clusters comprise various building typologies, which in turn provide space for a wide range of apartment forms. This 'democratic' housing mix promotes social integration and creates strong neighbourhoods.

ecovillage can be regarded as a pioneer in a long-overdue discussion of principles in which frugality is pursued as a philosophy.

All facts

500 residential units
900 inhabitants
5 hectares total area
2 hectares of garden land
3100 m² of commercial space
2500 m² communal facilities
Start of construction in 2021
Completion in 2026
More information: ecovillage-hannover.de

  • competition urban design ecovillage
  • Hanover, Germany
  • Genossenschaft ecovillage
  • 5 ha, 40.000 m² GFA, 500 units
  • in progress, 2020
  • 2017-ECO
  • masterplan + building design
  • Lydia Oehlwein, Niklas Staack, Jakob Bohlen
  • studiomauer

  • competition 1st prize; polis AWARD 2022 Nomination; German Urban Design Award 2023 Nomination;Real Estate Social Impact Investing Award 2023
Neighborhoods organize themselves around the village green. In the center there are social and commercial functions as well as housing for the elderly and a guest house.