Quick Facts
- Location: Jena (Thüringen)
- Project: Conversion of an unused attic into living space
- Capacity: New living space created for eight people
- Background: Measure against the local housing shortage
Jena, 09.02.2026. The housing market in the City of Light has been strained for years. High rents and low vacancy rates characterize the situation, especially for people with lower incomes or those in social emergencies. A current example from Jena now demonstrates how existing resources can be used effectively: by converting a previously idle attic, housing has been created for a total of eight people.
Potential Under the Roof: A Win for the City
The news that eight people can find a new home through a single conversion measure is remarkable by Jena standards. In a city that can hardly expand horizontally due to its geographical location in a valley, areas for new construction are extremely limited. The solution often lies not in new construction on greenfield sites, but within existing buildings. The conversion of attics, as in this current case, is considered a classic example of intelligent urban densification.
Unallocated storage spaces and drying lofts, which previously served only as storage rooms, often offer hundreds of square meters of unused potential. When these areas are insulated and developed, high-quality living space is created without having to seal additional land in the urban area. For the eight people who can move into the new premises, this means much more than just a roof over their heads – it means security and participation in urban life.
Why Urban Densification is Essential in Jena
The project is part of a necessary development. Districts like the Damenviertel, but also residential areas in Lobeda or Winzerla, often still have reserves within the building stock. Urban development experts repeatedly emphasize that “inner development” must take precedence over “outer development.” This is not only for ecological reasons:
- Infrastructure: Where houses already stand, there are already roads, sewers, schools, and bus lines. An attic conversion uses this existing infrastructure more efficiently.
- Energy Balance: A well-insulated roof helps the entire house save on heating costs. The renovation of an attic for residential purposes is usually accompanied by an energetic upgrade of the building.
- Social Mix: By creating new living space in established neighborhoods, social mixing is maintained instead of promoting pure new-build ghettos on the outskirts of the city.
A Model Project with Exemplary Character
The fact that a single conversion offers space for eight people suggests a larger property or a clever room layout. Such projects often require courage and a willingness to invest from owners or associations, but they pay off in the long term for the urban community. Especially in university cities like Jena, where students, professionals, and families compete for the same scarce living space, every square meter gained is a relief.
It remains to be hoped that this example sets a precedent and inspires more owners in Jena to look upwards. Often, the solution to the housing shortage is not far away, but directly under the tiles of one’s own house.