Imagine living in a place that once echoed with military drills. Today, we stand near the former Pionierkaserne. It is an area transformed into a vibrant residential district.
Originally, the Pionierkaserne was not even called that. Built from July 1938, the Reichswehr constructed it for the Luftwaffe. Back then, it was known as Nachrichtenkaserne on Lohengrinstraße. Locals often referred to it as the “Englschalkinger Kaserne”. Officially, it belonged to the Oberföhring tax district.
Viktor Freymadl from the Munich Air District Administration designed the Pionierkaserne. In May 1945, American forces occupied the Kaserne. It became a UNRRA refugee camp. UNRRA was a United Nations organization. It aided refugees and displaced persons after 1943. The camp housed up to 2,000 displaced persons. In September 1945, about 700 Latvians lived here in the Pionierkaserne.
In 1956, the Bundeswehr took over the Pionierkaserne. They constructed training buildings in 1957 and 1958. The Finanzbauamt Munich designed these. It became a Pioneer School, a place of training and instruction. It was officially named Prinz-Eugen-Kaserne in 1964. This honored Prince Eugene Franz of Savoy, a famous military leader from the 17th and 18th centuries.
By 2009, most Pionierkaserne buildings were torn down. Except for a few that were spared. By 2017, a new residential area emerged. This area would house about 4,500 people in 1,800 apartments. This new district is called “Prinz-Eugen-Park”. It aims to be an ecological model settlement for Munich.
The Prinz-Eugen-Kaserne covered almost 30 hectares. The city planned around 1,600 apartments after demolishing the military buildings in 2011. The swimming pool, diving pool and sports hall remained for a while. The planners wanted to preserve as many trees as possible. A primary school and retirement home were also planned. The Ruth Drexel Primary School opened in 2017.
The Prinz-Eugen-Park offers diverse housing. There are privately financed apartments and rentals. You will also find condominiums within the “Munich Model”. Social housing and apartments cater to different age groups. Housing cooperatives and spaces for building communities are present.
The Cosimastraße side features urban buildings. These structures shield the district from the street. Towards the east, compact residential clusters blend into the park-like landscape. Two roads connect the area. These connect to the Cosimastraße. A network of bike and footpaths offers additional access. The Prinz-Eugen-Park is accessible by public transport.
The ecological model settlement has 570 apartments. It is Germany’s largest contiguous timber construction area. The timber hybrid construction stores about 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Minimum renewable raw materials are used. These materials have ecological certificates. They are harvested in Germany.
The Pionierkaserne has transformed. It has changed from a military site to a refugee camp and finally a modern residential area. It reflects Munich’s evolution. It shows its commitment to sustainable urban development. The Pionierkaserne’s story reminds us. Even military grounds can be reborn into thriving communities.