Zukunftsfähige Kommunalbauten

Cities sit at the centre of climate change. They rely on energy-intensive materials and linear systems that drive resource use, material consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they are among the spaces most exposed to climate risks, heat stress, and impacts on human health.

Against this backdrop, the City of Potsdam set out to develop forward-looking standards for a sustainable city. The project focuses on resource-efficient construction, bio-based materials, and circular building principles as key levers for change. In cooperation with the Kommunale Immobilien Service (KIS), Bauhaus der Erde tested sustainable urban development and construction approaches and their integration into municipal practice.

The project was guided by two core questions:
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1.
How can circularity and resource efficiency be defined and applied in municipal new-build and refurbishment projects?
2.
How can sustainability goals and compensation strategies be combined into an integrated neighbourhood concept?

The project integrates climate adaptation, resource conservation, and social quality within a holistic neighbourhood planning framework. Seven sustainability criteria were defined and aligned with five key fields of action in sustainable urban development: the building transition, climate resilience, the transformation of work, the energy transition, and the mobility transition.

These criteria are brought together through an integrated action framework that systematically addresses interactions, synergies, and co-benefits, enabling their consistent and targeted application across planning phases and project scales.

To actively support and inspire municipalities, the project provides hands-on guidance for the implementation of comparable projects and for the strategic planning of forward-looking reuse and construction. As a key outcome, three practical tools have been developed and are available for download from our resources page:
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The Gestaltungskatalog (Design Catalogue)
A structured collection of concrete measures across seven sustainability fields, supporting early design and planning decision

The Bauteilkatalog (Component Catalogue)
A comparative assessment of building components based on ecology, circularity, building physics, and economic efficiency.

The Checklist
An Excel-based tool for integrating sustainability requirements across all planning phases.
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These tools are complemented by a scientific report that establishes the analytical foundation for transforming municipal construction in Potsdam. The report calls for a strategic shift away from linear construction processes towards circular, resilient, socially equitable, and climate-positive building practices.


In cooperation with Kommunaler Immobilien Service (KIS):
Established in 2005 as a municipal enterprise, the Kommunaler Immobilien Service (KIS) ensures that Potsdam’s public infrastructure evolves in line with the city’s dynamic growth: https://kis-potsdam.de/