Communal Living in Jena
The city of Jena is responding to the growing interest in alternative forms of housing, such as communal living. The city aims to specifically promote this form of housing and raise its profile. At its meeting on July 2, 2026, the Jena City Council was briefed on a report regarding the development of communal housing and the next planned steps.
To this end, the city commissioned the external firm Stadtverwicklung gGmbH from Weimar in December 2025. The goal is to raise awareness of communal housing projects and to develop a specific property through a concept-based award process. The call for proposals will be explicitly directed at project groups that wish to implement a communal housing project. It is scheduled to be published no later than 2027.
Project Goals
“Community housing projects are characterized by high standards of sustainability and social diversity. They often also create spaces for the general public, such as community gardens or neighborhood meeting places, which enhance the entire residential environment,” explains Lars Liebe, head of the Urban Development Department.
With this project, the city aims to inject new momentum into Jena’s housing market and further strengthen the diversity of housing options. The commissioning of Stadtentwicklung gGmbH in December 2025 marks an important first step in this process.
Responsibilities of the Contracted Firm
The key responsibilities of the commissioned firm include providing external process support and facilitating collaboration among the various stakeholder groups. Over the next two years, the city administration will be supported in identifying suitable public properties and clarifying the legal and organizational framework.
The subsequent awarding of the design contract will be technically supervised by the firm and implemented through the city-owned enterprise Kommunale Immobilien Jena (KIJ).
Background
Stadtverwicklung gGmbH is a nonprofit organization based in Weimar. It supports municipalities, civil society initiatives, and private organizations in developing urban and neighborhood projects oriented toward the common good. A particular focus is on supporting self-managed housing projects and designing participatory processes.
With an interdisciplinary team drawing on expertise in urban planning, architecture, sociology, and economics, Stadtverwicklung supports projects from the initial idea through to implementation. This includes developing and facilitating participatory formats as well as providing support in the development of viable concepts. The organization has a nationwide network and extensive experience in implementing large-scale housing projects in Thuringia.