Ecological settlement "Dröscheder Feld

58638 Iserlohn: Street: Oestricher Str. 39 to 57. Organisation and structuring of the project: Verein Wohnhof Iserlohn e.V., architecture: energy and environmentally friendly building, Leo Schwering. Approx. 55 persons in 17 flats and 2 offices as terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, grass roof, timber frame construction, parking space-free development (central parking spaces in front), innovative financing concept, legal form "association". 3rd prize at the timber construction award 2000 of the Märkischer Kreis.

Concept
In the city centre of Iserlohn, on the site of the former building depot, 16 single-family houses were built in ecological timber construction. The "Waldstadt" Iserlohn was planned and built according to ecological and economic criteria. The wishes and needs of the residents were taken into account. The inner courtyard was laid out car-free. There are no fences to separate the plots of land and the housing estate has a communal house. The 2 1/2-storey buildings are colour-coordinated and individually designed.

Competence and personal contribution
At the beginning of the planning of the project, the future residents founded the association Wohnhof Iserlohn e.V., among them the architect Leo Schwering (founding member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft ökologischer Holzbau AKÖH and the Garantiegemeinschaft Holzhausbau). Their aim was to plan, build and live in the housing estate together. The successful implementation of the "Waldstadt" project was helped by the fact that those involved were able to negotiate good joint conditions with banks, tradesmen and building markets. A further reduction in construction costs of up to 20 percent was achieved through self-help and personal contributions. In addition, funds applied for from state subsidies for low-energy construction and federal subsidies for ecological construction and the use of alternative energies were available. The first construction phase began in December 1997. The first topping-out ceremony was celebrated the following May and the first residents moved into their houses in December 1998.

Ecological building - cost-effective and healthy
Measured in terms of the residential value and the value creation to be expected in the long term, ecological building is more cost-effective than conventional building. In the case of the "Waldstadt" Iserlohn, the total costs (excluding financing costs and personal contributions) for the smallest house (approx. 120 sqm usable floor space and partial basement) amounted to approx. 195,000 euros, including the community share of the land, community house and parking lot. The heating costs are low thanks to the low-energy construction method; they amount to an average of only 120 euros per year for 100 sqm of living space.

Ecological components
1. timber frame construction in low energy building method
2. use of ecologically safe building materials
3. passive and/or active use of solar energy
4. low sealing of the soil
5. rainwater harvesting
6. heating energy saving 40-45 % under the requirements of WSVO 1995
7. insulation material: cellulose

Link to the representation of the planning office:
www.leo-schwering.de/wohnhof-iserlohn.html