Goldbeck Technical Solutions GmbH, a company within the Europe-wide Goldbeck Group, has been commissioned with the energy-efficient refurbishment of a residential quarter in Cologne-Niehl. The project involves the comprehensive modernisation of 17 multi-family houses with a total of 87 residential units and an area of approximately 5,500 square metres. The client for this measure is the Frankfurt-based investment and asset manager aam2core.
The revitalisation of the buildings, constructed in the 1960s, will take place while residents remain in occupancy. This approach addresses the challenge of increasing the renovation rate for residential buildings in Germany, which currently stands at under one per cent and is continuing to decline. Refurbishment in occupied buildings avoids the need to rehouse tenants and the associated loss of rental income for the owner.
Scope of Measures and Funding
Goldbeck is responsible for the modernisation of the building envelope, which is being funded by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) and KfW. The measures include the renewal of the facades, including thermal insulation, the complete replacement of all windows, and the insulation of roofs and cellar ceilings. The objective is to bring the residential buildings up to the KfW-55-EE energy standard.
For the implementation, specialists from Goldbeck Technical Solutions reviewed the existing execution plans. In close collaboration with architects, energy consultants and the executing craftspeople, these plans were specifically further developed. By optimising standard details and the insulation concept, execution was simplified, material usage and assembly effort were reduced, and costs were lowered, without compromising the targeted energy standard. This included, for example, replacing the originally planned insulation between rafters with insulation on top of the rafters, improving the airtightness of the buildings, and reducing the insulation thickness of the external facades from 28 to 16 centimetres.
Strategic Importance and Locations
Mr. Stefan de Greiff, a board member at aam2core, stated that it is crucial for aam2core to implement energy-efficient refurbishments economically and to consider the interests of tenants. He emphasised that Goldbeck has found solutions that meet both energy requirements and economic framework conditions, thus creating long-term added value for the property and its residents. Mr. Richard Garden, Branch Manager Düsseldorf for Goldbeck Technical Solutions GmbH, highlighted that plans are not simply adopted, but rather questioned collaboratively with all project participants and further developed into practical, economic and future-proof solutions. This enables efficient implementation of refurbishments in occupied stock with minimal inconvenience for residents.
The residential ensemble in question is located on Halfengasse, Hermesgasse and Merkenicher Straße and is part of the Ford area in northern Cologne. The buildings were originally constructed as housing for employees of the automotive plant and continue to shape the quarter to this day. The energy-efficient modernisation will secure this housing in the long term and enhance its future viability.
Patrick Möller, Managing Director of Goldbeck Technical Solutions GmbH, noted that the existing housing stock is a central lever for achieving climate targets in the building sector. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly important for portfolio holders and investors to reconcile climate protection, economic efficiency and user interests. Goldbeck addresses this by combining energy quality with economic feasibility, thereby creating sustainable solutions for existing properties.
