Director Andreas Breitner of VNW and Ulf Daude, OB candidate, tour housing project by Housing Cooperative Kiel-Ost.
In the heart of Kiel, a new housing project is underway that promises to provide affordable living options for its residents. The Housing Cooperative Kiel-East eG is constructing a new building at Willy-Jacob-Weg 1a/1b, and the project has gained attention due to its application of a cost-effective construction method.
Jochen Dohrenbusch, Managing Director of neuwerk Architekten + Ingenieure GmbH, is overseeing the project's construction. The "simple construction method" employed here emphasizes straightforward, efficient, and traditional building processes using basic materials and labor-saving approaches. This method minimizes the use of complex technology or excessive materials, relying instead on practical, well-understood techniques that can be executed quickly and with fewer resources.
The application of this method in the Housing Cooperative Kiel-East project is expected to significantly reduce costs. By using materials and techniques requiring less specialized labor and equipment, labor costs are lowered. Simplifying construction steps speeds up the building process, shortening the construction timeline, and leading to savings on overhead and financing.
Expensive high-tech or modular systems are avoided in favour of proven, cost-effective building methods such as load-bearing masonry or straightforward concrete framing. The project also aims to reduce waste through efficient use of materials and less reliance on sophisticated formworks or prefabrication that can add expenses.
While the specific details of the "simple construction method" used at Kiel-East aren't provided directly, principles such as using load-bearing masonry construction—a traditional, cost-effective method frequently used in residential buildings—and avoiding complexity are consistent strategies to reduce costs.
The project, which is unique in its application of the "simple construction method," will result in the creation of 36 apartments, including 15 publicly subsidized ones. The apartments will cater to older members of the cooperative, with 23 apartments having only two rooms and sizes ranging from 48 to 62 square meters. Eight three-room apartments and five four-room apartments are also part of the offer, with the largest four-room apartments having around 105 square meters and a roof terrace.
The rents for the privately financed apartments will average 12.50 euros, with particularly comfortable apartments potentially reaching 14 euros. The total construction costs are estimated at around 9.96 million euros gross.
The project has garnered attention from prominent figures, with VNW Director Andreas Breitner and Mayor Candidate Ulf Daude scheduled to attend a construction site visit on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 13:00 - 14:00 at the construction site. Journalists are cordially invited to participate in the visit.
The Association of North German Housing Companies (VNW), represented by 467 housing cooperatives and housing companies in Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein, manages 775,000 apartments, home to around two million people. For more information, please contact the Communications Department of VNW at Oliver Schirg, Phone: +49 40 52011 226, Mobile: +49 151 6450 2897, Email: [email protected].
This affordable housing project in Kiel is a testament to the potential of cost-effective construction methods to deliver high-quality, affordable living spaces for all.
The new housing project in Kiel, utilizing a cost-effective construction method known as the "simple construction method," is not only delivering affordable living spaces but is also expanding into home-and-garden areas with the intention of providing a complete affordable lifestyle for its residents.
Upon completion, the Housing Cooperative Kiel-East project will comprise of 36 apartments, including 15 publicly subsidized ones, each designed with ample square meterage, making them perfect for both home-and-garden activities and lifestyle needs.
