Cologne's car-free paradise: Signal box 60 is attracting more and more people!

Cologne's car-free paradise: Signal box 60 is attracting more and more people!

There has been a very special residential project in Cologne-Nippes for several years that has been causing a stir: the car-free settlement Stellwerk 60. This innovative residential complex, which was built on the former site of a marshalling yard, has not only shaped the lives of around 1,500 residents, but is also considered one of the largest projects of its kind in Germany. The charm of this settlement lies in the conscious avoidance of cars and the resulting quality of life that the residents can enjoy every day, as choices.de reports.

The idea for a car-free urban district arose in the 1990s, more precisely in 1994, when a working group was set up to make this vision a reality. The right property was quickly found in the Nippes district, where a railway repair shop used to stand. With good transport connections and a distance of just 2.5 km from Cologne Cathedral, it was ideally located. Despite initial resistance from the city of Cologne, the first residential building was finally moved into in 2006, followed by the founding of the Neighbors 60 association in 2007, which now has more than 330 members, as bpd-immobilienentwicklung.de reveals.

A new way of living

Stellwerk 60 not only offers residents a beautiful living environment, but also a variety of amenities. The settlement has bicycle parking spaces, underground storage areas for bicycles and play equipment, as well as extensive green areas that invite you to enjoy shared leisure activities. Children can play while adults enjoy a leisurely beer after work. This new form of living promotes community and strengthens neighborly interaction.

The settlement is equipped with bicycle and pedestrian paths that enable safe and environmentally friendly movement. Local residents are active participants in many initiatives, including urban gardening and energy projects. Particular attention is also paid to the issue of climate protection - the climate group at Stellwerk 60 works closely with the city's parks department to make the district sustainable.

The future is car-free

The vision of car-free cities is becoming increasingly popular. The experiences from the lockdown phase in spring 2020 have shown that fewer cars and more walking and cycling have positive effects on the quality of life. The Stellwerk 60 settlement is an example of this process of change and is now viewed as a model project by city administrations and property developers from all over Germany. The fact is: the demand for apartments in this unique settlement is high, and the term “car-free” has changed into a positive in public perception, as zukunft-nachhafte-mobilitaet.de describes.

Overall, it shows that living without a car is not only possible, but can also promote happiness and satisfaction. Stellwerk 60 is not just a housing project—it is a new way of living and reimagining the future of an entire city.