Kirchsteigfeld, Potsdam, Germany

Kirchsteigfeld is a town for 5,000 residents, planned and built as part of the German government’s effort to accommodate refugees following the re-unification of East and West Germany. The masterplan, designed by Rob Krier, called upon contributing architects to meet strict energy & environmental standards, which remain model standards for new development today. Peter participated in the Kirchsteigfeld Town Project while at SOM as lead designer of its focal commercial and residential building adjoining the town square.

The Kirchsteigfeld town square building utilizes primarily low cost, achievable passive strategies to reach a high standard of energy efficiency, such as:

• Innovative use of heavy concrete construction as thermal mass for radiant heating/ cooling

• External Insulation

• Natural flow-through ventilation to all units

• Living areas & balconies oriented to the southern sun for solar heat gain

Kirchsteigfeld demonstrates that new towns, designed to a high ecological standard, are an achievable solution to large migration due to political & climate crises.