A new, forward-looking residential district is springing up in the heart of the vibrant Ehrenfeld district: LÜCK. On September 6, the topping-out ceremony for the innovative project by the wvm Group took place on Subbelrather Strasse. The project impresses with its combination of modern architecture, sustainable energy supply, and social integration. Developed in collaboration with naturstrom AG, the neighborhood uses a unique heating technology: heat is extracted from wastewater and fed into the living spaces—a pioneering project in the urban energy transition.
Frank Piepers, Managing Director of the wvm Group and Head of Construction, emphasized the significance of the project and the challenges it presented: "The LÜCK district was a challenge that we, as pioneers, were happy to take on. We were all electrified by the possibility of tapping into a previously unused energy source for heating. CO2-neutral heating is something that concerns us all, and as a society we are sitting on an untapped source that could cover up to 10% of the energy requirements of a city like Cologne alone. We are proud to be able to make this contribution to sustainable urban development."
The neighborhood fits perfectly into the industrial district of Ehrenfeld, whose lively mix of cultures, creative projects, and architectural details from the 1920s is still visible today. "With the LÜCK, we are creating an ensemble that captures the lively history and creative spirit of Ehrenfeld," explains Erika Werres, managing director of the wvm Group. "Not only are urgently needed condominiums being built here, but also publicly subsidized apartments and rental apartments that preserve the social mix. With our protected construction method and architectural references to times gone by, we are offering people a home that combines an urban lifestyle with quiet retreats."
Political support for the project
In her speech, Sabine Pakulat, Chair of the Urban Development Committee, emphasized the importance of such projects for urban development: "I was very pleased to be invited to the topping-out ceremony, because it is wonderful to see what has already become of the planning vision for the LÜCK project. Housing construction must be pushed forward in order to provide people with space. That is exactly what this neighborhood is doing: it is helping to combat the housing shortage."
Volker Spelthann, district mayor of Ehrenfeld (Green Party), also emphasized the social component: "Projects like LÜCK are exactly what our district needs, because this mixed-use neighborhood is not only an important urban building block in Ehrenfeld, but also makes an important contribution to climate neutrality. The pioneering spirit and boldness of the entire team are setting new standards and should serve as a model for many other project developments."
Also in attendance was Jochen Ott, the local state parliament representative for Ehrenfeld and Bickendorf: "I am very pleased that urgently needed housing is being created in Ehrenfeld, especially in the form of socially acceptable and mixed neighborhoods like LÜCK. This project, with a high proportion of publicly subsidized housing and condominiums specifically aimed at the middle class, sends a strong signal against the increasing gentrification of our district."
Dr. Sarah Debor, Head of Urban Living and Commerce at naturstrom AG, explained the sustainable energy concept: "The heat pump in the energy center uses locally generated solar power and genuine green electricity from the grid to heat the water and fill a 20-cubic-meter buffer storage tank. This feeds the neighborhood's own heating network. During peak loads or when there is a particularly large amount of locally generated solar energy, a power-to-heat system is switched on. In this way, we are actively contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions and shaping the energy supply of the future."
The topping-out ceremony was celebrated by master roofer Martin Baldauf with a traditional speech. Dressed in traditional guild attire and to applause, he said: "The hour of celebration has struck, the skilled hands rest..." After the speech, Baldauf raised a glass filled with schnapps to wish the builders and the project good luck. With the words "But broken glass brings good luck and blessings to the builders in all their endeavors," he smashed the shot glass on the floor. This ritual, which is still a tradition on German construction sites today, symbolically links good luck and success for the new building.
