Established and emerging group build (Baugruppen) development processes

Abstract

Regulatory reforms aimed at increasing the housing supply also create new opportunities for households to jointly develop housing for their own use. To achieve goals in sustainable urban development, planners may leverage natural household incentives to prioritize building lifecycle cost and social value over short-term profit. New business opportunities emerge for architects and developers as generators of, and consultants on, group build projects. With an eye toward implementing an established German group building model in an American context, I outline the typical steps in the development process and frequent barriers that Baugruppen (building groups) face. I summarize qualitative data from interviews and virtual information sessions across three case cities—Berlin and Hamburg in Germany, and Melbourne, Australia—to show how governmental and professional stakeholders create replicable processes of group build project delivery. In a set of key takeaways, I assemble expert opinions about the state of the group build sector, which has seen continual innovation and recent professionalization. Policy recommendations include proactive strategies for managing public and underutilized land, integrating group build into small business support infrastructure, and introducing fixed social and environmental criteria for project-based subsidies. I conclude with the view that group build—while still a niche model of housing delivery—can make valuable contributions to sustainable development at the workforce housing level, with further potential as an affordable housing solution through government intervention.