Interview, 28. May 2026

"50 years of Leipzig-Grünau: A reflection of societal developments"

On 1 June 1976, the foundation stone was laid for what was then the second-largest new housing estate in the GDR: Leipzig-Grünau. By 1989, around 87,000 people had moved into new homes there. Since 1979, the development of this prefabricated housing estate has been accompanied by the long-term study “Housing and Living in Leipzig-Grünau” in which residents are surveyed every five years. Professor Sigrun Kabisch, urban sociologist at the UFZ, has been involved in the study since it began and has led the project since 2004. In the interview, she discusses the development of the neighbourhood, current trends, and her view of the future of Grünau.

How has Grünau developed over the past 50 years?

The Grünau prefabricated housing estate has always been subject to considerable change. After the population had increased to 87,000, it decreased dramatically to around 40,000 in the wake of the social transformation following 1989. In the 2010s, it slowly began to grow again, and the population reached around 48,000 by 2025. This development was accompanied by changes to the urban landscape and adjustments to the infrastructure. Of the original 36,000 flats, around 7,000 were demolished because of vacancies caused by people moving away and unrealistic privatisation conditions by law. This was followed by the modernisation and refurbishment of existing housing stock. Multi-storey residential buildings have recently made a comeback. These offer a quality of housing that can compete with that found in the city centre. In summary, numerous challenges have arisen over the 50-year history of Grünau. However, these challenges have consistently been overcome, and the district has proven resilient.

How has the residents’ perception of Grünau changed?

People here know what Grünau has to offer. Compared with some inner-city areas, the high proportion of green space, affordable rents for good-quality flats, extensive local services, and excellent playgrounds and leisure facilities are advantages repeatedly mentioned in our surveys. Nevertheless, those surveyed take a critical view of the future of Grünau. Concerns have been raised about changes in the social environment, a lack of consideration regarding litter and noise, and a perceived increase in disrespectful behaviour in public interactions.

Since 2015, more people have been moving to Grünau again. What are the reasons for this?

The population growth in Grünau reflects broader developments across the city of Leipzig, where the population has increased by more than 10% since 2015. The search for good, affordable flats also brought many people to Grünau. In 2015/16 and 2022, many people with a migration background and refugees found housing here, and in the centrally located district of Grünau-Mitte, they now account for 36% of the population. Another reason is that people who spent their childhood and teenage years in Grünau are returning there. In addition to the good living conditions, returning residents value their family networks.

What new challenges are emerging locally?

For some of the residents who have lived here for a long time, the influx of large numbers of migrants has been – and continues to be – a challenge. Because many of the new arrivals come from different cultural backgrounds, they bring different ways of life and behaviour that change the environment people had been used to. A lack of personal contact prevents people from getting to know one another and fostering mutual understanding. During discussions with migrant families, we listened to their concerns and realised that they want the same things as long-term residents: They want their children to go to decent schools and nurseries and not come into contact with drugs. They want to live alongside helpful, respectful neighbours.

What does the latest "Grünau 2025" study say about the satisfaction of the residents?

People remain very satisfied with their flats. Rents are affordable, the flats are well equipped, the green surroundings allow people to live close to nature, and neighbours are generally described as helpful. Around 90% of those surveyed definitely do not want to move out of their flat. But we are also seeing growing dissatisfaction with the local environment. Litter, pollution, and concerns about safety are increasing, and complaints about inconsiderate behaviour in everyday life are becoming more frequent. In our latest study, many of the approx. 700 respondents from 30 countries emphasised that considerable integration work is already being carried out in Grünau – for example in nurseries, schools, and leisure facilities for young people. However, the capacity to integrate newcomers should not be overstretched. This highlights challenges at the neighbourhood level that also apply to Leipzig as a whole and reflect broader societal developments.

Can these trends be observed in all neighbourhoods of Grünau?

The Grünau large-scale housing estate comprises several neighbourhoods. Its eight residential complexes differ in terms of building structure and state of renovation as well as the provision of local services and leisure facilities. The 25 housing companies with their specific marketing strategies and the resident groups they target play a decisive role in this process. Generally speaking, housing cooperatives play a key role in stabilising the neighbourhood and fostering a sense of community. The housing cooperatives are well known in the neighbourhood; they are committed to maintaining and modernising their relatively large housing stock and are closely engaged with their residents. In doing so, they contribute to improving the neighbourhoods.

You have been leading the Grünau Study for more than 20 years. How do you put the research results into practice?

The findings of the study are incorporated into areas such as municipal housing and social policy as well as neighbourhood management. The report on the findings is provided to project partners in both printed and digital form. I give talks, take part in discussion events, prepare special analyses for housing companies, and write articles for various journals. Following the publication of the latest Grünau study, residents of Grünau were invited to several presentations and discussions of the findings – an approach that has been part of every survey cycle for years. The Leipzig City Planning Office also invited me to give a talk at the expert conference “50 Years of Grünau – Moving Forward from Here” on 2 June.

What does the future hold for Grünau?

The Leipzig district of Grünau is about the size of an average medium-sized German town. As in any city, there are some lovely areas and some less attractive ones. The central question is how the existing potential can be used and how problems are addressed. If Grünau is given appropriate consideration in the city-wide development strategy, the district could serve as a model in many respects. That’s because the problems that arise here – and the ways in which they are addressed – can also be found in other parts of the city. Grünau needs strong advocacy and fair treatment from the wider community. This will allow Grünau to continue developing in a sustainable and future-proof way.

Further information

UFZ press office

Susanne Hufe
Phone: +49 341 6025-1630
presse@ufz.de