The winners of the 5th Klaus Novy Prize have been announced

For the fifth time and in keeping with its 120th birthday, Spar- und Bauverein Solingen eG awarded the nationwide Klaus Novy Prize for innovations in cooperative building and living in July. This prize was established by SBV eG as a stimulus for cooperative ideas on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. This year, the prize was awarded to projects that "socially and innovatively" strengthen membership in a cooperative and coexistence in neighborhoods.

"From children's cooperatives to housing projects for refugees: housing cooperatives today are more colourful, dynamic, open-minded and sustainable - innovative and social." SBV Board Chairman Ulrich Bimberg was enthusiastic about the "exciting exchange of knowledge" that took place in the cooperative's own historic washhouse Weegerhof.

Michael Groschek, Chairman of the NRW SPD and former Minister of State, was impressed by the award's namesake: Professor Klaus Novy had imagined the ideal society as a cooperative. The housing market in Germany is a long way from that, he said. "Unless you are lucky enough to live in Solingen, where every tenth apartment is cooperative." During his visit, Michael Groschek paid tribute to the innovative cooperative projects - as former NRW Minister for Construction, he has a special connection to the subject.

Eight cooperatives from all over Germany presented their ideas to the expert audience after a pre-selection from 31 submitted entries. In the end, the new Zurich housing cooperative "Mehr als Wohnen eG" prevailed in the democratic selection process. Their forward-looking and sustainable project was convincing from a social, technical and ecological point of view and received 4000 euros. Second place and 2000 euros went to "Inklusiv Wohnen Köln e.V.", the house project of an association of parents with disabled children. "Bellevue di Monaco eG" from Munich, a housing and social cooperative for refugees, was pleased with third place and 1000 euros. There were no losers in the innovative performances, but a win for all. SBV Chairman Ulrich Bimberg: "Every participating cooperative has something very special." For co-organiser Arno Mersmann, what is typical of a cooperative is: "What one person can't achieve alone, one can achieve together.

Laureate 2017

1. Prize "Mehr als Wohnen eG", Zurich
   new cooperative, supported by 55 Zurich housing cooperatives, is testing the future of living with 380 residential units. Their project was convincing in social, technical and ecological terms.
   www.mehralswohnen.ch
2. Prize "Inklusiv Wohnen Köln e.V." (Inclusive Living Cologne)
   House project of an association of parents with disabled children. The building owner is the Cologne municipal housing company GAG, and the association has the right of use and occupancy.
   www.inklusiv-wohnen-koeln.de
3. Prize "Bellevue di Monaco eG", Munich
   Housing and social cooperative for refugees, who are prepared for an independent life through a concept of care and co-responsibility.
   www.bellevuedimonaco.de

Klaus Novy Prize
The prize is dedicated to Prof. Klaus Novy (Professor of Building Economics, born 1944 in Vienna; died 1991 in Seattle, USA), who championed the renewal of cooperative housing culture. To mark its centenary in 1997, Spar- und Bauverein Solingen eG launched the nationwide competition. Every five years, current innovations are honored - also as an inspiration for others. Competition theme 2017: "Innovative social cooperative". Contact: Arno Mersmann, telephone 0202/563 20 58, e-mail: amersmann@hotmail.com

Savings and building society Solingen eG
With over 13,600 members, SBV eG is the largest housing cooperative in the Rhineland and one of the largest in Germany; almost one in eight people in Solingen live in an SBV eG house. The claim for 120 years: to offer modern and safe living space at fair conditions to all classes of the population. Contact: SBV Board of Directors, Ulrich Bimberg, Tel. (0212) 20 66-201, e-mail: bimberg@sbv-solingen.de