NEBourhoods - New European Bauhaus Lighthouse

What NEBourhoods - New European Bauhaus Lighthouse does

NEBourhoods (legal name: Architekturgalerie München e. V.; operating as "Creating NEBourhoods Together") is a non-profit EU-funded lighthouse demonstration project operating under the Horizon Europe programme from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2025, with project activities continuing post-grant under Handlungsraummanagement Neuperlach. It was selected as one of six European lighthouse projects for the New European Bauhaus initiative, with funding of €5 million from the European Union and €0.6 million co-financing from the City of Munich, totaling €5.6 million. The project is coordinated by the City of Munich (Referat für Stadtplanung und Bauordnung, with Sylvia Pintarits as Project Coordinator and Stadtbaurätin Elisabeth Merk as Founding Partner) and implemented by Architekturgalerie München e. V. (with Nicola Borgmann leading communications).

The project's core offering is a co-creative urban development methodology applied across approximately 1,100 hectares in the Neuperlach district of Munich, structured around ten NEB Actions (Animal-Aided Design, Growing a Tasty Neuperlach, Public Power / Shadow Architecture, Circular Neuperlach, Redesigning Housing, Energy Communities, ECOLOPES / Multispecies Facade, PEARL / Youth Culture, NEBourhood Hubs, and Digital Participation Tools) and three physical venues (the now-dismantled NEBourhoods Pavilion, NEBourhood Hub RESI, and MakerSpace). Underlying technology includes open-source databases (AAD Toolbox covering 14 wildlife species), 3D-printed building facades, modular hexagonal garden systems, and digital participation toolkits integrating with the City of Munich's Digital Twin data, developed in collaboration with TUM and HM universities.

The business model is non-commercial: NEBourhoods does not sell products or services and instead operates as a publicly funded research and demonstration project. Revenue mechanics consist of EU grant disbursement and municipal co-funding distributed to a consortium of 17 partners plus 3 cooperation partners and 4 associates. The target "customer" base comprises Neuperlach residents (citizens, youth, entrepreneurs), the City of Munich as primary institutional partner, and the wider European urban planning community as recipients of replication methodology through open-access publications such as the "NEBourhoods for Tomorrow" Replication Handbook.

Name

NEBourhoods - New European Bauhaus Lighthouse

Legal name

Architekturgalerie München e. V.

Website

https://nebourhoods.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NEBourhoods is a non-profit EU-funded Horizon Europe lighthouse demonstration project for the New European Bauhaus, coordinating co-creative sustainable urban development in Munich's Neuperlach district through ten NEB Actions and serving the City of Munich, local citizens, and the European urban planning community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Urban Development

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Housing Development, Construction & Rehabilitation Programs (BPAIANAB)

Keywords

• Sustainable urban development
• Urban regeneration projects
• Community engagement programs
• Circular construction methods
• Biodiversity urban planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. EU Horizon Europe Funding: Primary funding through Horizon Europe programme. Funded by European Union (€5 million) and co-financed by City of Munich (€0.6 million) for project duration 1.10.2022 - 31.3.2025. Project No: 101080052.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NEBourhoods implements co-creative sustainable urban development programs in the Neuperlach district of Munich through thematic NEB Actions covering biodiversity, circular construction, energy communities, mobility, housing retrofit, nutrition, and youth culture. It delivers physical prototypes (NEBourhoods Pavilion, NEBourhood Hubs, MakerSpace) and open-source methodologies, databases, and digital participation toolkits free of charge to citizens, municipal planners, and partner organizations.

Product overview

Creating NEBourhoods Together is a coordination platform for sustainable urban development operating as one of six European Lighthouse Projects for the New European Bauhaus. The portfolio includes physical infrastructure products (NEBourhoods Pavilion, NEBourhood Hubs, MakerSpace), multiple thematic NEB Actions addressing public spaces, biodiversity, nutrition, energy, mobility, housing, and circular economy (Animal-Aided Design, Growing a Tasty Neuperlach, Public Power, Circular Neuperlach, Redesigning Housing, Energy Communities, ECOLOPES, PEARL), and digital participation tools leveraging city Digital Twin data. All offerings are implemented through co-creative processes with citizens, creatives, and experts to implement the European Green Deal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NEBourhoods Pavilion A modular, foldable timber pavilion built on stilts using WeOn GmbH's sustainable building system. Modules can be changed, stacked, combined and customized for different space requirements. Operated by UnternehmerTUM as an innovation demonstrator, gallery and community workshop space.
• NEBourhood Hubs Two multifunctional mobility stations developed through participatory processes, serving as meeting points for various mobility forms and incorporating digital participation tools that utilize data from the city's Digital Twin. One hub (RESI) hosts a Library of Things lending station.
• MakerSpace Workshop facilities operated by UnternehmerTUM featuring laser cutting, 3D printing and sewing machines, providing free membership stipends for Neuperlach residents to create neighborhood projects.
• Animal-Aided Design (AAD) Approach incorporating wildlife into architecture and urban planning, including an open-source database with habitat requirements for 14 target wildlife species and a toolbox of building, planting and maintenance measures for urban biodiversity.
• Growing a Tasty Neuperlach Initiative combining sustainable nutrition with edible greening through community gardens, hexagonal modular raised beds, a mobile outdoor kitchen, and a cookbook featuring local Neuperlach recipes. Eight community gardens established to date.
• Public Power (Shadow Architecture) Shade and energy infrastructure combining shadow architecture with integrated photovoltaic elements, creating multifunctional urban spaces while generating solar electricity and reducing urban heat islands.
• Circular Neuperlach Circular transformation roadmap for commercial buildings addressing new uses of spaces, neighborhood integration and material cycles, including workshop series and analytical methods for programming new uses.
• Redesigning Housing Structures Strategies for socially just, economical and energy-efficient upgrading and spatial expansion of residential buildings, including 'habitable insulation' and winter garden additions.
• Energy Communities Community-based energy model where residents jointly produce, consume, store, share and market electricity, including a co-creative implementation guide for establishing energy cooperatives.
• ECOLOPES Multispecies facades creating diverse habitats for humans, plants, animals and microorganisms on building envelopes to promote urban biodiversity, developed with 3D-printed plant building blocks.
• PEARL (Places for Youth Culture) Initiative enabling young people to develop, articulate and live their local culture through cultural venues, a mobile bicycle cinema (Ciné Vélo Cité), CHILLspORT youth spaces and audio drama projects.
• Digital Participation Tools Toolkits developed with TU Munich students for participatory urban development combining physical and virtual participation, including gaming-based apps, community path quality assessment, geodata collection and integration with city Digital Twin data.
• Animal-Aided Design Database Open-source web-based database showing habitat requirements for 14 wild animal species in Neuperlach, developed as part of the AAD Toolbox, freely available for use by other urban planning projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 community gardens established in Neuperlach
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Landeshauptstadt München - Referat für Stadtplanung und BauordnungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Primary municipal partner coordinating the project through Stabsstelle Europa-Angelegenheiten. Stadtbaurätin (Chief Planner) Elisabeth Merk serves as Founding Partner. Project Coordinator Sylvia Pintarits represents the city. Co-funding provider at €0.6 million alongside EU Horizon Europe funding.
• Architekturgalerie München e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for editorial work and content management of the project. Team includes Nicola Borgmann (Communications) and Cornelia Hellstern. Hosts exhibitions and manages project documentation and publications.
• UnternehmerTUM / Munich Urban ColabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation center operating the NEBourhoods Pavilion and MakerSpace. Managing Director Stefan Drüssler involved in project activities. Connects entrepreneurship programs with urban development initiatives.
• Technische Universität München (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple TUM chairs involved: Lehrstuhl für Architekturinformatik (Chair of Architectural Informatics), Lehrstuhl für Gebäudetechnologie und Klimagerechtes Bauen (Building Technology), Lehrstuhl für Entwerfen, Umbau und Denkmalpflege (Design and Renovation), Lehrstuhl für Terrestrische Ökologie (Terrestrial Ecology), Lehrstuhl für energieeffizientes Planen und Bauen.
• Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München (HM:UniverCity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences involved in co-creative processes, CrAFt Cities Alliance collaboration, and youth culture programs (PEARL). Community Manager Jana Köstler represents the project.
• CULTUURCAMPUSflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lighthouse project in Rotterdam, Netherlands. One of the six European lighthouse projects selected by the European Commission for the New European Bauhaus.
• DESIRE: Designing the Irresistible Circular SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lighthouse project. One of six European lighthouse projects working together to create a movement for sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful cities implementing European Green Deal goals.
• EHHUR: Eyes Hearts Hands Urban RevolutionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lighthouse project. One of six European lighthouse projects collaborating on New European Bauhaus methodology and implementation.
• NEB-STAR: New European Bauhaus STAvangeRflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lighthouse project in Stavanger, Norway. One of six European lighthouse projects selected by the European Commission.
• BOSS: Bauhaus of the Seas SailsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lighthouse project focused on marine and coastal urban solutions. One of six European lighthouse projects in the New European Bauhaus network.
• Studio Animal-Aided DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationPlanning office leading the Animal-Aided Design (AAD) NEB Action. Team includes Christine Jakoby, Qingyu Liang, Thomas E. Hauck, and others. Developed AAD Toolbox and database for urban biodiversity.
• Green City e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO leading the 'Growing a Tasty Neuperlach' (Neuperlach isst grün) NEB Action in collaboration with Münchner Ernährungsrat e.V. and Münchner Initiative Nachhaltigkeit.
• WeOn GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationStart-up providing the modular timber construction system for the NEBourhoods Pavilion. Founded by Timo Weil. The foldable, sustainable building system enables flexible space configuration.
• str.ucture GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitecture firm responsible for the NEBourhoods Shading Architecture (Verschattungsarchitektur) prototype at Campus di Monaco, combining shadow structures with integrated photovoltaics.
• Siemens AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner engaged in neighborhood walks and exchange with Neuperlach-based businesses. Hosted the NEBourhoods for Tomorrow closing conference at Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, Neuperlach.
• Münchner KammerspieleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunich theater collaborating on the PEARL (Places for Youth Culture) NEB Action, developing cultural venues for young people through mobile cinema and film lab programs.
• Quidde35 / Raum für StadtsanierungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for community events and district management activities. Hosts energy community meetings and various neighborhood workshops. District Manager Florian Mayr involved.
• KulturBunt Neuperlach e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural association in Neuperlach. Representative Bahar Auer involved in community activities and exhibition openings.
• CrAFt - Creating Actionable Futures / NTNU & Hogeschool van AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network fostering interdisciplinary co-creation in living labs. Hosted Cities Alliance meeting in Amsterdam where NEB Alliance Manifesto was presented. Collaborates on New European Bauhaus Impact Model.
• Juniorforschungsgruppe Cleanvelope / TUMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch group leading the Energy Communities (Energiegemeinschaften) NEB Action, developing community-owned energy solutions and the Energiegemeinschaften München eG cooperative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CULTUURCAMPUS: One of the other five New European Bauhaus lighthouse projects, based in Rotterdam. Directly comparable as a peer EU-funded demonstration project applying co-creative, sustainable urban development methodology to a specific district.
• EHHUR (Eyes Hearts Hands Urban Revolution): Fellow New European Bauhaus lighthouse project working on urban transformation through co-creation. Identical EU funding programme and NEB methodology, making it a directly comparable peer in scope and structure.
• BOSS — Bauhaus of the Seas Sails: Marine/coastal-focused NEB lighthouse project and fellow Horizon Europe grant recipient. Same funding architecture, same demonstration model, same NEB co-creation principles — a direct peer for methodology and reporting benchmarks.
• DESIRE (Designing the Irresistible Circular Society): Another of the six New European Bauhaus lighthouse projects, focused on circular society transformation. Same funding stream (Horizon Europe), same policy framework, same demonstration-project model — directly comparable peer.
• NEB-STAR (Stavanger): One of the six New European Bauhaus lighthouses, located in Stavanger, Norway. Directly comparable as a geographically distinct but methodologically aligned peer under the same EU policy and funding framework.

Broad incumbents

• URBACT: European programme for integrated sustainable urban development, jointly funded by the EU. Comparable as an EU-funded urban knowledge-transfer network with city participation and co-creation focus — a broader incumbent in the same category.
• ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainability. Operates broadly across the same urban sustainability and citizen engagement space as NEBourhoods but at far greater scale and as an incumbent umbrella organisation rather than a single demonstration site.

Others

• UnternehmerTUM / Munich Urban Colab: Munich-based innovation centre operating the NEBourhoods Pavilion and MakerSpace. An ecosystem partner and enabling player in entrepreneurship and urban innovation, overlapping thematically rather than competing directly.
• Bauhaus Foundation (Bauhaus Stiftung / Bauhaus Association): Heritage and contemporary Bauhaus institutions connected to the original and New European Bauhaus movements. Adjacent enabling player — provides brand, historical lineage, and intellectual reference that NEBourhoods draws upon but is not a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• CrAFt — Creating Actionable Futures (NTNU & HvA): European network of cities fostering interdisciplinary co-creation in living labs; explicitly collaborates with NEBourhoods on the NEB Alliance Manifesto and Impact Model. Comparable as an emerging network player in climate-positive cities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nebourhoods
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creating-nebourhoods-together
• Instagraminstagram.com/nebourhoods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NEBourhoods - New European Bauhaus Lighthouse