New life in the Gammel high-rise: renovation at Pirnaischer Platz is progressing!

New life in the Gammel high-rise: renovation at Pirnaischer Platz is progressing!

The time-honored “Gammel high-rise” on Pirnaischer Platz in Dresden, which many residents thought had already been visually lost, is treating itself to an impressive makeover after a thorough renovation. Once an uninviting relic of the past, the building is undergoing a complete transformation that will soon reach its peak. [MDR].

The high-rise will in future offer 150 rental apartments, which were originally planned for 180 apartments. Between one- and three-room apartments with sizes from 31 to 86 square meters, there is something for every taste and every need. A new food market will be located on the ground floor, which will offer residents fresh shopping opportunities right on their doorstep. A special challenge for the construction workers were various unexpected structural obstacles. According to Tag24, this delayed completion by around a year.

Successful renovation with challenges

The high-rise was taken over by the Leipzig real estate group “quarterback” in 2020. Under her direction, a comprehensive renovation took place, during which the building was gutted. Although the basic structure was retained, the roof, the facade and the technical systems were fundamentally renewed. Construction costs rose by around 30 to 35 percent, which many construction projects are also experiencing due to material shortages and the consequences of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the new apartments are equipped with underfloor heating and balconies and promise a high standard of living, as the MDR continues.

The renovation also includes the creation of an underground car park with 32 parking spaces. In the new glass extension and on the first floor of the high-rise there is space for commercial and office units, which are intended to further stimulate the urban lifestyle in this area. The building also benefits from its central location near the old town, the Elbe and the main train station, which ensures schools, daycare centers, doctors and shopping opportunities are within walking distance.

Living at heights: challenges and opportunities

The disciplined approach to urban development is viewed critically by experts like Winfried Schneider. According to his theory, high-rise buildings can influence the social structures of their residents. Baubiologie discusses that such building projects often offer fewer open spaces and green spaces, which can be detrimental to neighborly coexistence. Millennial tenants are increasingly opting for high-rise buildings that, although densely populated, can also pose challenges in terms of social integration due to their construction.

Nevertheless, the “Gammel-Hochhaus” seems to be well on its way to meeting the demands of modern tenants, while at the same time exploiting the potential of urban densification. The view even extends as far as Saxon Switzerland, which can certainly be seen as a small, personal luxury given the hustle and bustle of the city.

In view of these developments, it remains to be seen how the new residents will live together in this building and whether the building can actually provide the urgently needed social living space.