Fehrle Gardens – a neighbourhood to live in

In the Fehrle Gardens – a former market garden site in Schwäbisch Gmünd – a new, sustainably designed neighbourhood is sending a strong message in favour of vibrant and inclusive urban development, demonstrating that: high-quality housing and the cooperative ethos are not mutually exclusive, despite the slump in the housing market. On the contrary.

On a site covering just under 1.5 hectares, the Stuttgart-based LBG (Landes-Bau-Genossenschaft Württemberg eG) has, in just five and a half years, created an environmentally friendly, affordable residential neighbourhood comprising 147 rental flats of various types – 23 of which are subsidised units – for all generations and needs in just five and a half years. Townhouses and terraced houses sit alongside traditional multi-storey flats, whilst flats for people with disabilities are complemented by shared accommodation for senior citizens and students – an integrated community centre, medical centre, nursery and outdoor spaces make the neighbourhood a place for people to come together, further enlivened by its own neighbourhood meeting place.

And indeed, the innovative neighbourhood has been fully let since its completion in April 2024, and the quality of life is high: A car-sharing station in the neighbourhood makes a valuable contribution to ‘New Mobility’, whilst the sustainable construction method – all eight buildings were erected to the KfW55 efficiency standard using a hybrid timber-brick construction with monolithic brickwork – contributes to a good environmental footprint and comfort. In addition to the avoidance of fossil fuels and the innovative technical concept, the use of resource-saving concrete (R-concrete) and the modular construction method also contribute to this. Furthermore, the use of external thermal insulation composite systems was largely avoided throughout the project. Add to that plenty of greenery – all of this combined is what gives the Fehrle Gardens their unique charm.

A concept from a single mould

‘Life’ comes together in the Fehrle Gardens. In other words: there’s plenty going on here. Naturally, this requires flooring that not only stands up to everything but also effectively meets modern sustainability standards without driving up construction and maintenance costs. This is one reason why the client, together with the main contractor Ed. Züblin AG, decided that flooring from objectflor – installed by Alexander Fritz of Ohrnberger Raumausstattung – should be used throughout.

In the living areas, the highly decorative and versatile EXPONA LIVING collection, in the Chalet Oak and Light Classic Oak finishes, was used to create both contemporary and timeless interpretations of oak. These designer floors guarantee emission-free, unpolluted indoor air not only thanks to high quality standards, but also through the INDOOR AIR COMFORT GOLD environmental label, under which all objectflor collections are certified.

“EXPONA LIVING can be either glued or clicked into place; installation is almost child’s play,” explains installer Alexander Fritz.

And because the hard-wearing yet soft, warm-underfoot flooring requires no subfloor preparation, it can be walked on immediately after installation.

In commercial settings, however, the requirements are somewhat stricter: communal areas and nurseries benefit from modern, homely designs. At the same time, durability and ease of maintenance are particularly important for keeping running costs under control. Two collections really stand out here: POLYFLOR PALETTONE is a homogeneous floor covering which, in the ‘Linen Air’ and ‘Greens’ finishes, creates a fresh, friendly ambience that is at times understatedly elegant and at other times vibrant. EXPONA COMMERCIAL is also extremely durable, hard-wearing and easy to clean and maintain: this LVT collection features a wear layer thickness of 0.55 millimetres, whilst the natural materials depicted are authentically rendered through a skilful interplay of colour nuances and natural variations – for the Fehrle Gardens, the choice fell on ‘Warm Micro Terrazzo’ to create a soft, natural stone look.

Copyright photos: ©krischerfotografie