Gaps between buildings, settlement and traffic areas

Germany is a densely populated country. It is therefore important to make careful use of land resources for cities, settlements, transport and industry. Open spaces and gaps between buildings are of particular importance for quality of life and resource consumption.  

Around 85 million people live in Germany. The population has grown by an average of 0.3 million people in recent years. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the settlement and transport area in Germany grew by an average of 52 hectares per day between 2019 and 2022. At 238 inhabitants per square metre, the population density in Germany is about as high as in Liechtenstein (239), but twice as high as in France (123). The Netherlands also has a large number of people living in a relatively small area (521), but nowhere near as many as Malta (1,615).

The European Union and the German government are aiming for net zero land consumption by 2050. No net new land is to be used for settlement and transport purposes. The aim is to reduce land consumption in Germany to less than 30 hectares per day by 2030. Internal development is a central component of this. Building plots are also important in rural regions.

A study by the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences differentiated between four types of housing estate: historic town centres, post-war housing estates, housing estates from the 1980s to 1990s and new housing estates from 2000 onwards. In all types of housing estate, there was a high level of approval for the preservation of older buildings. 

On the basis of the study, the researchers propose customised support for the owners of vacant lots, taking social aspects into account. Smaller residential units for the general population, especially senior citizens, could be offered in centrally located apartment blocks. This would help those who do not need or cannot afford a detached house. Green space planning should also be taken into account: Older gaps between buildings that are landscaped could be upgraded as parks or green spaces or contribute to cooling effects in the city.

(Photo: © Djedj, Pixabay)