“That can't be done? Then I'll do it all the more.”
With these words, investor Oliver Blume described his approach to one of the most exciting building projects in the region at the latest event in our Hannover Real Estate Partners Meet Friends series: converting the VW Tower in Hannover into affordable housing.
In his committed talk, Blume gave exclusive insights into the development of his ambitious project, and it became clear what drives him: “When someone tells me something can't be done, I see that as the starting signal. It really gets me going. I then look for ways nobody has seen yet, to create something special. That is exactly what the tower is meant to become. Hannover does not have many landmarks, and we should be creative with them.”
The concept: affordable, well-designed housing with character
Blume plans to redesign the lower section of the VW Tower while preserving the iconic silhouette of the upper section. The focus is on creating affordable residential units that offer a high quality of living on 25 square metres. The inspiration comes from modern tiny house concepts, which stand out for their efficiency and clever use of space.
But the tower is meant to be more than just housing: communal areas, gardens and event spaces are planned to turn the site into a lively meeting place that not only attracts new residents but also enriches the neighbourhood.
Hannover's real estate sector in dialogue
The event not only offered an exciting look at the future of the VW Tower, it also showed how the real estate sector in Hannover works together. Alongside Interhomes AG and Weser Wohnbau, Engel & Völkers Commercial Hannover took part as a host of the event for the first time.
The evening drew to a close over good food and inspiring conversations, with a view of the Hannover skyline, where the VW Tower could soon be revived as a landmark. It remains to be hoped that the project will also receive support from the city.
The transformation of the VW Tower would not only be an impressive building project but also a statement: Hannover can be modern, creative and affordable. We look forward to following this project further and are curious to see how this piece of the city's history is rewritten.