Trier/Stuttgart (ots) - Trier is Germany's oldest city, combining a university, a bishopric, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thus, it assumes a significant role in the region: With the construction of approximately 960 residential units – including 159 single-family homes and almost 800 apartments in multi-family buildings – the city is now expanding its diversity and creating an attractive living environment on the site of the former Castelnau barracks. The area in the south of the city, which covers an area the size of approximately 58 soccer fields, is being comprehensively renovated and developed by EGP GmbH, a company for urban project development. The result: a heterogeneously structured neighborhood in the countryside and currently the largest new development area in Trier, called Castelnau Mattheis. In close cooperation with the City of Trier and the consulting firm Drees & Sommer, which specializes in construction, real estate, and infrastructure, EGP is making an important contribution to creating urgently needed housing in the region. Housing construction in Germany has declined sharply. Rising construction costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and limited space are hampering development. According to a forecast by the Central Real Estate Committee, there could be a shortage of approximately 830,000 apartments by 2027 – demand is particularly high in metropolitan areas. To close this gap, alternatives to traditional new construction are needed. Land reuse is an efficient and sustainable solution: "Land recycling offers the opportunity to counteract the increasing sealing of land and utilize the potential that already exists – the first step towards sustainable development," explains David Becker, Managing Director of EGP GmbH. "Castelnau Mattheis benefits from its elevated location directly adjacent to the forest, its green, natural surroundings with mature trees – excellent conditions for livable living," adds Becker. The Castelnau barracks are one of five major urban development projects by EGP in Trier, with which the city is responding to the growing demand for housing. Land for the Future Trier looks back on a long history as a military base. At times, up to 15,000 soldiers were stationed here, making the city the second-largest French garrison after Paris. Today, only the French street names recall this past – the military facilities themselves have long since disappeared. For almost 25 years now, the former barracks areas at the site have been gradually converted for civilian use – always in a planning and coordination process with local residents. However, the conversion of military areas brings with it special challenges, as Max Vogel, Project Manager and Leading Consultant in the Urban and Infrastructure Solutions division at Drees & Sommer, explains: "A key issue is the remediation of contaminated sites. For example, the soil of the former shooting range at the Castelnau barracks had to be laboriously cleared of ammunition residues and pollutants." But the effort is paying off: "Where there used to be a shooting range, a recreational area with a playground, soccer field, and lawn will be created in the next few years," says Vogel. Holistic Neighborhood Development: From Infrastructure to Open Space Design. Together with his team, the experienced neighborhood expert is responsible for the area development of the project in Trier and coordinates all stakeholders involved in the project. This includes not only the basic planning of the neighborhood in coordination with the city and EGP, but also the acquisition of building permits and the planning of the grid-based infrastructure. In this area in particular, it is important to coordinate the specifications of various stakeholders – municipal utilities, planners, developers, and building owners. In addition to the choice of energy source, be it gas, geothermal energy, or solar thermal energy, the heating network concept – for example, a district or local heating network – must also be determined. This also determines which telecommunications provider will be implemented in the neighborhood and how the sewer network should be designed. "Today, a separate system is typically used, in which wastewater and rainwater are managed separately, ideally with decentralized infiltration of the rainwater in the neighborhood," explains Max Vogel. In addition to the utility-based infrastructure, his team is also responsible for planning the streets, paths, neighborhood areas, and playgrounds, thus making a significant contribution to the sustainable redevelopment of the area. A total of 3.4 kilometers of new roads, 6.3 kilometers of sewers, and 45 kilometers of pipelines are being built, making the neighborhood future-proof. Living close to nature with urban connections The new Castelnau Mattheis development borders directly on the Mattheiser Wald nature reserve—a special location that also influences the neighborhood's design. "It's important to us to focus on the concerns of species conservation and the adjacent natural areas when developing the new residential area, and to transfer the character of the landscape into the neighborhood," explains David Becker of EGP. Therefore, the planners are also relying on sustainable building materials such as wood and natural color schemes in green and brown tones that blend harmoniously with the surroundings. Despite its close-to-nature orientation, the district also offers optimal connections to the surrounding area: A well-thought-out mobility concept and a well-developed infrastructure ensure short distances within the neighborhood and convenient access to neighboring districts and local recreational areas. At the same time, 21 commercial businesses, a local shopping center, and a daycare center create a high quality of life directly on site. With Castelnau Mattheis, a modern, sustainable residential district is growing in Trier that combines history and the future. By 2030, a variety of housing types will be built here in five subdivisions – from single-family homes to terraced houses to apartment buildings. "The first residents moved into the 'Auf der Höhe' subdivision at the end of 2022 – an important milestone for the project," reports Becker. Press contact:
[email protected]. Original content from: Drees & Sommer SE, transmitted by news aktuell. Original report: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/134210/6020964
