Freiburg Green City

Sustainable architecture is forward-looking when it creates an environment that improves the living conditions of the present without hindering future generations. Sustainable architecture creates living spaces where social integration occurs with respect. It forms the basis for proactive urban development. Building ecologically is often considered more expensive, but it doesn't have to be. The key lies in the sensible use of our resources and the development of intelligent construction proposals. A living space is shaped by the people who live in it, and in turn, the people are shaped by their living environment. This interplay also determines the development of our cities. 55 cities from around the world were invited to present their concepts on the theme "Better City - Better Life" at Expo 2010 in Shanghai. One of them is Freiburg im Breisgau. Wolfgang Frey introduces five principles that are crucial for sustainable architecture and urban development: - Ecological sustainability - Economic sustainability - Social sustainability. The connection of these three principles is achieved when we take responsibility to actively change our living environment. This willingness to shape is implemented in such a way that we not only develop living spaces for people but do so together with them, in a collaborative process. Many of the projects we have developed are inspired by the housing cooperative models of the 1920s. Through alternative planning processes - such as in building communities - and through special financing options, we create incentives to choose sustainable solutions. This makes it possible, for example, for a builder to afford the high construction costs for buildings built to passive house standards.