ZplusB - Zinzendorfgasse plus Brunngasse – Joint user groups in a historic building block in Graz

Starting point / motivation

The exploratory project ZplusB is developing an innovative renovation approach that is jointly supported by owners and user groups. It emerged from the ZxB (Zinshaus X Baugruppe) project, which investigates how joint user groups can be set up in apartment blocks in order to increase the rate of modernisation.

The ZplusB project in Graz occupies a special position, as it comprises several properties and already involves a committed group of users who do not yet live there. The cooperation gets effective support to succeed in developing a cooperation agreement that is the basis for investment in the renovation.

Contents and goals

The overarching goal is to promote comprehensive sustainable renovation. The ZplusB project represents a new approach in which the owner is encouraged to undertake a committed renovation by the motivated user group. By jointly building up knowledge and negotiating the measures to be taken between the owner and users, a needs-based, high-quality renovation and sustainable management is made possible.

The future users want to take responsibility for their living environment and develop a long-term perspective for the buildings and their use together with the owner. They contribute the innovative strength and ecological orientation inherent in „Baugruppen". The co-operative approach will ultimately serve as a model for other projects.

Methods

Both the future residents and the owner develop a shared knowledge base through joint knowledge building during excursions and online expert input. Building on this, participatory workshops are held in the areas of law and finance, spatial concept and refurbishment, as well as energy and ecological construction. These will be used to make joint decisions on the direction for the development of the cooperation agreement, the feasibility study and the transformation plan.

Expected results

The innovative renovation approach proposed in the ZplusB exploratory project aims to create synergies between owners and users.

The core innovations of the project are

• Development of a cooperation agreement between owner and user groups as a basis for investing time and money in the renovation, in conjunction with a transformation plan to develop a climate-neutral neighbourhood
• Creation of a cooperative rental, financing and usage model for a cross-property building group in the built environment.
• Regulation of co-determination rights and obligations in the development, construction and usage process
• Development of a planning process in which knowledge is built up and project qualities are negotiated, and the interests of both sides are considered so that needs-based solutions with cost and energy savings are developed

Project management

Realitylab GmbH – Petra Hendrich

Project or cooperation partners

• e7 – energy innovation & engineering
• M2S Rechtsanwälte
• Initiative gemeinsam Bauen und Wohnen
• Verein ZplusB, gemeinschaftlich Wohnen in Graz
• Philipp Kronawetter
• baukult ZT GmbH

realitylab GmbH
Petra Hendrich
Bruno-Marek-Allee 5/11 Z2
A-1020 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (1) 996 2015 22
E-mail: hp@realitylab.at
Web: www.zxb-info.at