Photo: Deutsche Wohnwerte

With the Berghöfe in Frankfurt's Riedberg district, a quarter has been realized that not only creates urgently needed additional living space in the Rhine-Main conurbation, but also tests new forms of urban coexistence.

The project

The Berghöfe are located on Frankfurt's Riedberg in the north-west of the Main metropolis and were completed in 2025. Eight building ensembles with a total of 399 apartments have been built on an area of 4.3 hectares on behalf of the Heidelberg-based project developer Deutsche Wohnwerte. The design by Dutch architecture firm KCAP, implemented together with B&V Braun Canton Park Architekten and landscape architects Topotek1, focuses on the needs of the residents. The differently sized courtyards each form their own units and create places of retreat as well as meeting spaces. They are spread over a total of six plots, which were offered as vendors by various subsidiaries of Deutsche Wohnwerte GmbH & Co KG in varying constellations.

Sustainability criteria

The new quarter combines urban density with a village-like neighborhood. Instead of being criss-crossed by roads, the courtyards are designed to be car-free; a central underground car park absorbs the traffic. This creates space for green areas, play areas and outdoor meeting places. The view extends from the inner courtyards over the Taunus hills to the Frankfurt skyline - a charming tension between nature and the big city. Flexible room concepts appeal to families as well as singles and couples of different ages. In order to give as many residents as possible the coveted view of the skyline and create a direct link to Bonifatiuspark, the south-western corner of the building site was left undeveloped.

Effect

In the face of scarce space, rising rents and growing social isolation, residential areas such as the Berghöfe represent a new approach. Community structures, nature-oriented design and resource-conserving construction concepts help to improve the quality of life in the city. "With the Berghöfe, we are supporting a project that strengthens social cohesion and meets the requirements of contemporary urban development," emphasizes Marie-Luise Millotat, Head of Asset Management at the Software AG Foundation (SAGST). "They are an example of how economic responsibility and social added value go hand in hand." Markus Ziener, Head of Asset Management at SAGST, adds: "This investment represents the largest single transaction in our real estate portfolio to date, which underlines the strategic importance of the project. The acquisition of the six properties was staggered over three years, in each case at the start of construction. We were actively involved in the acquisition and realization process for five and a half years."