21.03.2025
Cureus presents plans for Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann in Kassel-Bettenhausen
- Energy-efficient refurbishment of the historic textile factory from the 19th century in keeping with its listed status
- A new, lively centre for all generations is being created in the district
- 152 flats planned – subsidised and regular – in various sizes
- 96 assisted living flats and senior residence with 163 places to be built
- Small businesses, supermarket, catering, culture and areas for leisure and recreation planned
- Initial work to start in autumn 2025, completion of the entire Salzmann Industrial Monument residential complex expected in 2028
- Investment of up to 100 million euros planned
Winsen (Aller)/Hamburg/Kassel-Bettenhausen – 21 March 2025. Cureus, part of the Lindhorst Gruppe, a family-run group of companies with activities in areas such as construction and and real estate as well as health and care, today presented its plans for the future development of a residential quarter in the historic Salzmann Industrial Monument in Kassel-Bettenhausen for the first time. The event was also attended by Kassel's Lord Mayor, Dr Sven Schoeller, who welcomed the project due to its local and regional significance.
Sven Schoeller, Lord Mayor of the City of Kassel, emphasises the extraordinary importance and future potential of the planned development of the Salzmann site: ‘With the coordinated cooperation between the Lindhorst Gruppe and the City of Kassel, we are seizing the opportunity to give this important industrial monument in the Bettenhausen district a pioneering future perspective. The city of Kassel is extremely positive about the commitment of the new owner, the further cooperation with him and the impetus provided by this development project.‘
‘The exciting location of the Salzmann Industrial Monument residential complex and the historical fabric building also make the project something special in terms of planning,’ says Jan von Hörsten, Managing Director of the planning office plan & bauwerk Winsen (Aller), which is carrying out the project, and which has particularly focussed on the needs of the town. The development will primarily provide socially subsidised housing for households with low and medium incomes as well as residential and care facilities specifically for senior citizens. He adds: ‘We are pursuing a socially oriented concept that will give Bettenhausen a new centre of life in the future. The realisation of this intergenerational residential quarter also entails a wide-ranging responsibility, as a former industrial site will be transformed into a versatile living space from a social perspective, which must be harmoniously integrated into the surrounding area and complemented by architecturally suitable new buildings in the interests of efficient land use. The listed factory will be made accessible again and brought into the present day, and attractive, modern and climate-friendly new buildings will be added. With regard to the environment, our aim is to bring the old industrial building with its special charm up to a completely new technical standard and the new buildings will meet high KfW requirements anyway.’
Alexander Lindhorst from the Lindhorst Gruppe says: ‘In addition to the senior residence that we have been planning for some time, we are now delighted to be able to develop the entire area of the Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann in Kassel into a special place with a future in the Bettenhaus district. Dennis Rossing continues to support us as an important partner with his excellent development visions and accompanies the project. With our comprehensive concept, we are responding to the needs of the city and its citizens and, in particular, the neighbourhood. We are creating urgently needed flats, care centres and suitable local amenities as well as cultural and recreational areas. We are currently planning to start the first work in autumn 2025. The entire site can then be completed in 2028.’
The plans for the Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann
The site of the former Salzmann factory currently covers around 36,570 square metres and is still occupied by the listed, two-winged factory building from 1876 and a boiler house with chimney, which is also a listed building. The plan is to carefully refurbish the listed buildings in line with the preservation order and to construct additional buildings that will provide space for future life on the site. In addition, the area, which was previously fenced off, will be opened up by creating new paths and crossings with connections to the neighbourhood. Cureus, the project developer from the Lindhorst Group, is responsible for implementing the measures.
Salzmann & Comp. - old factory building for social and assisted living and culture
In the north wing of the five-storey building along Sandershäuser Strasse, around 5,930 square metres of socially subsidised living space for low and middle-income households is being built to modern standards. In future, 96 bright flats ranging in size from 39 to 83 square metres are planned here. The new residential units will comprise one to three rooms and have a living/cooking area, a modern shower room, a hallway, storage space and a loggia. Lifts will connect the floors next to the historic stairwells.
The striking tower building at the eastern end of the north wing will be converted for use as a cultural and commercial space. Around 1,500 m² of usable space will be available for this purpose in future. The City of Kassel intends to rent and utilise the space.
The south-facing wing of the building on the west side of the factory will be converted into 96 units for senior-friendly assisted living and will then comprise a total of around 8,630 square metres of living and usable space. A professional operator will take over the letting of the flats and the care of the residents once construction is complete. The individual flats are planned with one or two rooms for living and sleeping as well as cooking facilities, barrier-free shower room, hallway, balcony or terrace and storage room in sizes between 33 and 67 square metres. Access to the building and floors is planned to be barrier-free and with lifts.
The lower ground floor of the factory building will have 82 parking spaces for motor vehicles, some of which will be disabled-friendly and equipped with facilities for e-mobility, and 365 for bicycles. In future, access will be via a newly planned access road that will lead into Agathofstrasse.
The entire existing building will be refurbished in accordance with the special energy standards of the KfW 55-EE programme. New windows with a high degree of insulation will be installed, façades will be partially insulated on the inside and photovoltaic and solar thermal systems will be installed on the roof surfaces, which will also be arranged on the north wing to give it the appearance of the special skylights in the south wing. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network. This will make the former factory building climate-friendly for the future.
In addition to the typical clinker brick façades, the generous window areas on the façades and the architecturally and historically valuable skylight halls, which, contrary to earlier plans, are now being retained in their entirety as cold rooms, the restoration and preservation of the factory building in line with its listed status also includes the special roofs themselves and the traditional ‘Salzmann & Comp.’ advertising lettering on the western gable end, which is a distinctive feature of the site.
Local amenities, socially subsidised housing and condominiums in the new building
On the eastern side of the site, adjacent to the old factory, a low-rise building with a residential block on top is planned along Agathofstrasse. A large supermarket and other small commercial units will be built here on the ground floor, covering around 1,600 square metres, to provide local supplies for the new neighbourhood and the surrounding area.
The first to fourth floors will also contain 56 residential units, most of which will face the quiet green inner courtyard. 25 of the rental units are planned as socially subsidised housing, the remainder as owner-occupied flats. Measuring between 33 and 95 square metres, these flats will comprise 1 to 5 rooms and, in addition to kitchen/cooking facilities, shower/bathroom, hallway and storage space, will also have a (roof) terrace, loggia or balcony, depending on their location in the property.
The new building complex is being constructed in accordance with the high energy standards of the KfW 40 programme and its exterior design will harmonise with the neighbouring factory building thanks to its colour and shape. The flat roof and the roof overhang above the factory will be extensively greened and fitted with a photovoltaic system. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network.
In addition to bicycle parking spaces along Agathofstrasse, there will also be 78 car parking spaces for retail customers, some of which will be disabled-friendly. A further 24 car parking spaces are planned above ground for the residential tenants.
Old boiler house for catering, café, services, etc,Spacious outdoor facilities for recreation and leisure
The old boiler house with the striking chimney in the south of the former factory site will also be preserved together with the chimney and renovated in accordance with the monument protection regulations. It comprises around 235 square metres of floor space. Further usable areas in the building will be created on existing and new intermediate levels, depending on the utilisation concept. With its sun terrace, it is intended to be used for gastronomy or as a café or other services and thus as a possible future neighbourhood focal point in the spacious and attractively planned outdoor areas of the Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann. Residents and guests can combine activity, enjoyment and relaxation here in their leisure time and meet up together. By opening up the outdoor facilities in the inner courtyard and creating a crossing path between Agathofstrasse and Großalmeroder Strasse/Melsunger Strasse along the boiler house, the centre of Bettenhausen will also become passable again, reviving old footpath connections and enriching the further development of the district.
Modern senior residence in the south of the site
Also to the south of the site, a modern senior residence will complete the new Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann. The U-shaped senior residence building will be a four-storey structure. The linear and modern façade with large glass elements will be plastered in white and light grey tones. The colour scheme of the building blends in perfectly with the surrounding buildings. A total of around 8,680 square metres of barrier-free gross floor area will be built in accordance with the KfW's energy-saving Efficiency House 40 standard. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network and a photovoltaic system will be installed on the green roof. A well-known care home operator will take over the operation of the centre. In addition to long-term inpatient care, short-term and respite care will also be offered at this location.
The senior residence will have 163 modern and generously proportioned flats. 64 of the flats are not only barrier-free, but also wheelchair-accessible. All flats have their own shower room with WC as well as a nurse call system and telephone, internet and television connections. The flats are divided into seven independently organised residential groups to ensure family and social interaction.
On the ground floor of the building, behind the friendly and hotel-like entrance area with reception and foyer, there is a library where residents can relax and a spacious residents' restaurant with its own kitchen and sun terrace. The property will also have its own laundry for residents' laundry, a care and wellness bath, therapy and medical rooms as well as a hairdresser and chiropodist. There will also be four bicycle parking spaces and 17 car parking spaces - six of which are disabled-friendly – with facilities for charging infrastructure.
Further space potential from the development plan
Development plan VII 42 Salzmann-Areal from 17 April 2020 also defines four additional areas on the site that have a total of up to 12,500 square metres of potential for mixed or residential use. Three of the four areas are currently unplanned, while the fourth area is currently intended as a car park for residents of the Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann.
The location in Kassel
The historically significant Salzmann site is located on Sandershäuser Strasse, which leads directly into Leipziger Strasse. It connects the Bettenhausen district with the city centre on the Fulda, just two kilometres away, with the main railway station, the old town with numerous shopping opportunities and many public, cultural and social facilities as well as churches. The city park Karlsaue, the Auebad Kassel, the Buga site and the Auestadion Kassel are also located on the nearby Fulda. There are also tram and bus stops in the vicinity of the new Residential Carrée Industrial Monument Salzmann, providing regular connections to the city centre and the surrounding countryside. Another listed building within walking distance, the Haferkakao Fabrik, is also to be redeveloped by another investor into a lively residential, service and commercial centre with extensive green spaces in keeping with its listed status.
About the site of the former Salzmann factory
Development of the site, which currently covers around 36,500 square metres, began in 1876 with the brick building of the former ‘Salzmann & Comp.’ textile factory, which still stands today. By 1890, the production of tents and accessories was already going very well, so that further factory buildings were erected on the site over the coming decades and a total of up to 5,000 people were employed on the site. When the factory closed in 1971, the site was initially converted into a business park before being used as a cultural factory from 1987, enriching the life of the city of Kassel with a wide range of events. In 2007, the increasingly outdated property changed hands and the investor had plans to build an event arena and a centre for public authorities. Neither of these plans could be realised, and in 2012 the demolition of the production halls, which were not listed, began. When the Lindhorst Gruppe joined the planning process in the 2020s, the focus was placed on a mix of affordable housing, senior housing, complementary business, culture and sufficient parking space for the future use of the historic site. Following the complete project takeover by the Lindhorst Gruppe, this new mix has now been worked out in detail and is to be implemented from autumn 2025 to revitalise the old Salzmann factory in the sense of an appealing usage concept for the city and its residents as the new centre of the Bettenhausen district.
