diversEFH

diversEFH - Systematic diversification of single-family housing areas as a contribution to sustainable neighborhood development

The building stock in Germany is strongly characterized by single-family houses. This type of housing is resource-intensive, often under-occupied, and associated with social as well as energy-related challenges. The research project diversEFH focuses on the development of scalable strategies for the ecological, social, and functional transformation of existing single-family housing neighborhoods. A central aspect is the programmatic diversity at the neighborhood level, with a particular focus on widespread, standardized prefabricated houses. The subject of the research project is the model home exhibition in Fellbach, which includes 55 existing show homes of various typologies, construction methods, and manufacturers, and is part of the IBA’27 project area. The research project combines urban planning, architectural-typological, constructive, and energy-related approaches in order to enrich existing single-family housing areas with diverse uses. At the Chair of Architecture and Timber Construction, the potential of component reuse in the transformation process of single-family housing neighborhoods is being investigated. The goal is sustainable densification, energy upgrading, and the strengthening of social and spatial qualities within the existing built environment.

Project Duration:
February 2026 – July 2027