Joint building ventures as a new instrument for urban development: a qualitative analysis of Baugruppen in Freiburg, Germany

AbstractThis article reviews a special type of collaborative housing that has emerged in the German housing market in response to the growing need for urban housing and increasing focus on active and networking housing communities and stable neighbourhoods. Joint building ventures are projects in which private individuals jointly establish residential property. However, the academic literature on this issue is underdeveloped. To foster a better understanding of the topic, this article focuses specifically on detecting the strengths and weaknesses of this type of joint building venture and its contribution to a higher homeownership rate. The qualitative interview data were collected between December 2015 and March 2016 in Freiburg, Germany. The findings reveal perceived advantages in terms of supportive networks, customised solutions and potential cost savings, whereas the identified disadvantages are high financial risks, mutual dependencies and personal efforts. Practical implications and avenues for fut...