Potsdam

The plan area comprises the site of the former Krampnitz Cavalry Riding School in the Fahrland district of Potsdam. The long military use of the site ended with the withdrawal of the Soviet troops in 1991, after which it became the property of the state of Brandenburg and has remained unused ever since. For this reason, the Fahrland district became interested in putting the derelict site to a new use and making it accessible to the local population. The upgrading of the listed buildings together with the expansion of the residential area to include numerous single-family and multi-family houses offers optimal conditions for all kinds of living and working models in the immediate future. The supply of goods for the daily needs of the future residents is to be provided by the establishment of small-scale local supply facilities.

Macro-location

Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, is located only a few kilometres southwest of Berlin and is part of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region with its approximately 180,000 inhabitants. It is famous primarily for its large number of historical buildings and its long history as the royal seat of the Prussian kings. Sights such as the Sanssouci and Cecilienhof palaces, the New Palace and the Dutch Quarter attract more than half a million overnight guests and numerous day trippers to the city every year. Potsdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a UNESCO Film City with the Babelsberg Film Studios.

But the economy of the state capital is also flourishing. Today, Potsdam is a successful research and service centre. Large companies such as VW, Toll Collect, Katjes and the software manufacturer Oracle are based in the city on the Havel River. The gross domestic product is rising steadily, and Potsdam is now even one of Germany's leading biotech locations with around 160 companies.

Potsdam offers its residents an overall package of first-class infrastructure, quality of life and nature. Around three quarters of the city area consists of green, water and agricultural areas. There are several nature reserves, various natural monuments and a hinterland with many lakes that is appreciated by Potsdamers and Berliners as a nearby recreational area.

Micro-location

The Fahrland district is about 6 kilometres north of the centre of Potsdam, and the Krampnitz district is located on its eastern edge. For decades, Krampnitz was characterised by the approximately 140 square metre site of the Cavalry and Armoured Troops School (Army Riding School), which was built in 1939. It was used by the Red Army as barracks after the end of World War II. It stood vacant from 1992.

Today, the district at the northern end of Krampnitz Lake is experiencing a revival. Whereas fewer than 100 inhabitants lived in the rural area up to the middle of the 20th century, more and more affluent Berliners and Potsdamers are now moving to Krampnitz. The name "Kramptons" was coined with reference to the Hamptons, the summer residence of well-heeled New Yorkers.

A new residential area with its own modern infrastructure has recently been built on the site of the Army Riding School. A low-traffic district with a forward-looking energy concept is planned here in the long term. This also includes improved connections to Potsdam city centre, an extensive network of cycle paths and pedestrian-friendly footpaths. With its proximity to Berlin and the centre of Potsdam, as well as its green surroundings, Krampnitz will therefore offer an ideal residential environment in the near future.