YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
Good, safe and affordable accommodation in desirable districts with functioning infrastructure is a key factor in life quality. An interview with the president of GdW Bundesverband deutscher Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen e. V. (the German Federal Association for Housing and Real Estate Companies), Axel Gedaschko.
Playground@Landscape: How important are a well built environment and secure housing today?
Axel Gedaschko: Housing has always been one of the most basic human needs. A home offers space for creation and at the same time protects a person's private sphere. But when it comes to living well and safely, the district that the many individual homes and flats make up is also key. Housing is also not excluded from the new megatrends such as the ever increasing digitalisation of individual areas of life. Here we are talking about developments such as the "smart home". Our increasingly digitally manageable environment offers many opportunities for all generations. But it also presents risks and challenges. This means that certain aspects of "safe living" must be reconsidered today and themes such as data protection factored in. Our environment must reflect the needs of different generations and ages and be energy efficient. The demands of housing are growing but the basic need when it comes to housing is safety in an attractive environment. This has always been the case and needs to be borne in mind.
P@L: A statement on the refugee crisis and on the topic of house building from you: the GdW is demanding better conditions for affordable new housing construction at the refugee summit. What needs to happen?
Axel Gedaschko: We need a new house building offensive and we need it now. Residential space in urbanised regions is becoming scarce. At present Germany has a housing shortage of at least 800,000 homes. But this is certainly not solely a result of the high number of refugees currently coming to Germany. The deficit has been steadily building up over the years. But the current influx is further accentuating the problem. In concrete terms, Germany needs to build a total of around 400,000 homes per year until 2020 and therefore around 140,000 more rental units than will be built this year – including 80,000 social homes and 60,000 units in the affordable housing segment. These homes are lacking in particular in cities, conurbations and university towns and cities. The priority now is to immediately remove the obstacles to the construction of more affordable homes. The reworking of the Energy Saving Ordinance and of the Renewable Energies Heat Act announced at the Building Ministers' Conference must be concluded by the summer recess. Building planning and building permit processes must be speeded up significantly. Mayors of towns and cities must recognise that housing supply is a priority. The local authorities in the large growth regions need a housing construction coordinator with wide-ranging skills and authorities proportionally co-financed by the states. Of equal importance is a reworking of the Federal Land Use Ordinance so that obstacles to the densification and replenishment of residential buildings can be eliminated. And then we need to carry out effective, exceptionally well-marshalled integration work.
P@L: Buzzword "social": The GdW organised the "Social Town" prize. What is the background to this accolade?
Axel Gedaschko: The Social Town prize is a joint initiative by organisers from civil society, the housing sector and the fields of welfare, science and politics. The aim of the competition is to raise public awareness of exemplary projects and initiatives for a social town and to encourage their emulation. The Social Town prize has been conferred every two years since 2000. The main objective of the accolade is to put people and their behaviour at the heart of urban development. The consequences of high unemployment, demographic development and immigration are concentrated in socially disadvantaged districts of towns and cities. There are no quick fixes for the problems of these neighbourhoods because their roots are too deep. Social urban development is a long-term undertaking that requires collaborative, joined-up action and the pooling of resources across agencies. The Social Town can only succeed with the support of many societal and political players. This is illustrated by the efforts to secure many partners for the development of districts and neighbourhoods including welfare associations, the housing sector, companies, foundations and job centres. Projects with a pronounced element of networking are therefore being honoured with a special prize for the first time.
P@L: New forms of living for young families. Service for seniors. Living and working together. Good offers generate demand. What offers and concepts does the GdW have?
Axel Gedaschko: The member companies of the GdW offer a wide variety of different concepts. Barrier-free and therefore generation-appropriate construction methods and homes equipped with "smart home" and so-called "ambient assisted living" models are becoming increasingly prevalent. Such models help older and physically restricted people to live safely, comfortably and independently for longer in familiar environments and their own homes. But it's not just tenants who benefit but also housing providers and society. And the home also becomes a more viable health location. Our association and its member companies have recognised this development and are acting accordingly.
P@L: Can you tell me about the "Neighbourhood steps" initiative? Is it a fitness course for every residential block?
Axel Gedaschko: Tenants of housing providers who sign up for the "Neighbourhood steps initiative" can compete as "pacesetters" in a selected pilot region. As part of the nationwide "Germany gets moving" initiative participants can use a Polar fitness bracelet to count how many steps they take in their daily life or when playing sports. In keeping with the motto: Show your neighbour what you're capable of. Whoever takes the most steps wins – and keeps fit! The patron of this initiative is Heike Drechsler.
P@L: Cooperation prize: Five top-class housing cooperatives were awarded prizes. What was required for a good placing?
Axel Gedaschko: The GdW und the Federal Building Ministry established the "Housing Cooperative Prize" in 2008. The aim of this competition is to recognise initiatives and concepts from housing cooperatives that demonstrate innovation, future viability and responsible behaviour in various themed fields. The competition motto for the 2015 Cooperative Prize was "Shrewd use of technology – a win for members". As well as the participants' ideas, execution of the concepts that reflect the motto was crucial for the jury. Future viability, sustainability and member-/tenant friendliness are to the fore.
The interview was conducted by Thomas R. Müller (Playground@Landscape)
