Photo: E. Pinkas

Through its involvement in the Quartier Colours project in Heidelberg’s Bahnstadt district, SAGST underscores its commitment to forward-looking urban development that prioritizes a high quality of life. This mixed-use complex combines work and residential spaces within one of the world’s largest passive house developments.

The Project

Since 2008, one of Germany’s most significant urban development projects, the Heidelberg Bahnstadt, has been underway on the site of a former freight and marshalling yard. In 2017, SAGST acquired the largest portion of the Quartier Colours, which was built according to a design by the Berlin-based architectural firm Eike Becker_Architekten and completed in 2018.

The foundation’s investment comprises approximately 7,770 square meters of commercial space as well as ten apartments with a total of approximately 847 square meters of living space. These are complemented by underground parking spaces and communally designed outdoor areas. All units are fully leased. Right next door are a daycare center and the expansive Bahnstadt Promenade with play and recreational areas.

Sustainability Criteria

Bahnstadt is internationally regarded as a flagship project for climate-friendly neighborhood development. All buildings were designed to strict passive house standards, which require significantly less heating energy than conventional new buildings. With energy-efficient building envelopes, smart building systems, and a sustainable energy supply, the Colours ensemble also follows this concept. The entire Bahnstadt is supplied with 100 percent renewable district heating via a wood-fired cogeneration plant.

Impact

“When we invested in 2017, Bahnstadt was still under construction. We were convinced by the idea of a consistently sustainably planned urban district—a place where living, working, and community come together. The fact that the district has developed so dynamically today confirms our decision,” says Marie-Luise Millotat, Head of Asset Management at SAGST. “Colours exemplifies how energy-efficient construction, urban quality of life, and economic viability can be reconciled.”