Interview: Luisa Peisert and Marcello Mazza from Alfons & alfreda AG
Location: Düsseldorf, June 2023
In the Ehrenfeld district, west of Cologne city center, the sustainable neighborhood THE WID ONE and TWO is emerging. Marcello Mazza and Luisa Peisert, project developers in the Alfons & alfreda team, talk about the project's plans, the pursuit of sustainability in times of energy crisis, and the cultural change currently taking place in Ehrenfeld.
Ehrenfeld is undergoing a transformation: how are the various components of Ehrenfeld – from the extensive industrial areas to the multicultural, alternative and colorful atmosphere – successfully integrated into the THE WID ONE and TWO projects without negatively influencing the special charm of the surrounding area?
Marcello Mazza: “One important measure is the skillful integration of the projects with a diverse utilization concept, taking into account the existing buildings that are worthy of preservation and character. The current situation presents an inaccessible, completely sealed industrial area with partially vacant halls whose use in this central location is no longer up to date.
In order to make the quarter accessible and experienceable for everyone, we are creating publicly accessible paths that also tie in with the development of the Pandion AG in the Max-Becker area. The buildings THE WID ONE and TWO will also be harmoniously integrated into the existing buildings and reflect the architecture of the historic gasworks environment. The space is intended for trades, manufacturing, sports, gastronomy and more, taking up the original uses and complementing them with future-oriented concepts.
Furthermore, accessibility in Ehrenfeld is a central aspect for us. In line with the concept of the “15-minute city”, we want to further improve the neighborhood's connectivity with the neighboring districts in order to optimize mobility and strengthen the connection.
Our vision is to make the district a central attraction in Ehrenfeld that brings life to the surrounding area. This is becoming increasingly important, particularly in view of demographic changes and the influx of people into this region.
We hope that the residents of Ehrenfeld can identify with our projects just as much as they can with their beloved neighborhood.”
Climate change is also part of the transformation in Ehrenfeld: the planning of the two properties provides for green facades and outdoor areas. What sustainability measures are being taken in addition to the visual appearance?
Luisa Peisert: “In addition to the green appearance of THE WID ONE and TWO, we are pursuing extensive sustainability goals that are in line with the City of Cologne's 2030+ strategy.
We are aiming for various certifications for sustainable buildings, including DGNB Platinum Level, WELL Platinum Level and Wired Score Platinum Level. These certifications require special measures during the construction phase.
However, our ambitions go beyond construction. We have set ourselves ambitious targets in terms of energy generation and recovery, energy positivity, recycling concepts, promoting biodiversity and using sustainable and reusable building materials. Especially in an age when the production of waste has reached an extremely high level, it is important to consider the life cycle of the property and think about recycling and reuse.
In our projects, we not only value ecological aspects, but also the social dimension of a neighborhood. We believe in mixed-use development to create an inclusive environment that meets the needs of diverse communities. We recognize that a successful neighborhood must be sustainable not only on an environmental but also on a social level.
Aside from environmentally conscious thinking, the focus for a project developer is also on profitability. How does Alfons & alfreda ensure the profitability of THE WID ONE and TWO without compromising the quality or the environmental aspect of the properties?
Marcello Mazza: “We place a high value on quality, sustainability and social integration. Regardless of the profitability of the projects, we firmly believe that these aspects are of fundamental importance. By working with experienced partners in the planning and construction, we have already been able to ensure a very high quality in our recently completed OVUM project in Cologne-Braunsfeld.
We firmly believe that the highest level of sustainability is profitable in the long term. A project becomes profitable when it creates real added value for the largest possible group of stakeholders. Our goal is to create something great for our neighbors and the people of Ehrenfeld. If we achieve that, the profitability of the properties will automatically follow.”
The real estate industry is going through economically uncertain times. Are these uncertainties affecting the progress and realization of the THE WID ONE and TWO projects?
Luisa Peisert: “The demand for future-proof and sustainable real estate is not inhibited by economically uncertain times but is actually strengthened. Especially in times of energy crises, it becomes all the more important to develop good and sustainable real estate.
The office of tomorrow, the way we want to come together and develop ideas in the future – all of this is changing fundamentally. Many existing properties no longer meet the adequate requirements and also have disastrous climate values. As developers, we are therefore serving a field of demand that is increasing and will continue to increase. The more uncertain the times are, the more we have to convince with good concepts in prime locations, which we do with our two projects.
We are always looking for new approaches, particularly in sustainability, and therefore see great potential in the energy concepts of existing buildings and new construction projects. We want to develop innovative solutions and help ensure that sustainable real estate plays an increasingly important role.
Demand is there and will continue to grow, regardless of economic uncertainties. We see it as our mission to respond to this demand and to meet people's needs and requirements with our projects.”
