In many German cities, affordable housing needs to be created quickly. In Kassel, a combination of construction strategies provided promising solutions: A modular construction method with prefabricated, large-format elements, planned in advance with digital services, saved significant portions of construction costs and shell construction time. The construction method also provides a long-term flexible and thus sustainable living concept. This is because the Variowohnen project, which was designed for student housing, is barrier- and support-free in its floor plans and features a demountable wall system. By making minimal changes, the living space can thus also be converted for small families and age-appropriate apartments for the elder in the future.

But what if no new properties are available? Germany's largest cities in particular are facing a population increase that they cannot compensate for with new buildings in the limited space available. Elevations, attic additions or densification – there are a few ways to sensibly add to existing housing stock. In Berlin, the courtyard of the Fennpfuhl residential complex was converted into a new residential quarter. But this was about more than just creating additional living space. Rather, the neighborhood was expanded to include useful facilities such as a daycare center for children, a bicycle repair shop and community rooms.

The Konstantinum project in Leipzig was also about making the most of the space already available. The Graphisches Viertel was still reeling from its almost complete destruction during World War II, even decades later. Reconstructed historic buildings lined up with derelict wasteland. Until 2018, this included the 3,900-square-meter property at the corner of Kohlgartenstrasse and Konstantinstrasse. The challenge for the project consisting of 123 rental apartments and nine office and commercial units was to integrate them into the existing building landscape and intelligently connect them with each other. The project thus bridges the gap between historic and modern housing, simultaneously creating affordable living space for singles, families, and senior citizens.