Prefabricated – sustainable – modular – Vonovia modernises 74 apartments in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Prefabricated timber elements made from eco-friendly wood.
Extremely energy efficient and carbon neutral.
Collaboration with a local partner.

Bochum, 1 October 2025 – Using a modular approach, Vonovia has start-ed modernising 74 apartments in the Upper Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The 13 buildings, all dating from 1975, are currently rated in energy efficiency classes F to G. After modernisation, they will be upgraded to class A.

Yesterday, Vonovia CEO Rolf Buch, Bavarian Housing Minister Christian Bernreiter and Claudia Zolk, Deputy Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, were given a tour of the project at the Vonovia residential complex on Steigfeldstrasse in the Burgrain district.

“By using sustainable building materials and a high degree of prefabrica-tion, we can accelerate the modernisation process. This efficient modular approach is a highly effective tool for meeting our ambitious climate targets,” says Rolf Buch. “It enables us to drive a sustainable and effi-cient energy transition in our existing building stock, while keeping rents affordable for our tenants.”

In renewing the buildings, Vonovia primarily uses prefabricated, insulated timber modules, fitted on site to the walls like tailor-made suits. Key elements of the project’s sustainability are the use of renewable materi-als and collaboration with local partners.

“This project shows how innovative solutions can drive the energy transi-tion in existing residential areas. Working with local partners and using regional materials is another key element in achieving long-term sustain-ability,” says Christian Bernreiter.

Modular prefabrication means that construction work in the residential area will be completed far more quickly than in a conventional moderni-sation project. Triple-glazed windows and new doors are also being in-stalled. The windows feature integrated indoor ventilation with heat re-covery, helping to save energy. The indoor environment is further en-hanced with the use of integrated blinds and sun protection glazing, and a photovoltaic system is being installed on the roof to generate green electricity.

Work on three of the five construction sections, each comprising around 930 sqm of residential floor space, is already well under way. Fitting the prefabricated elements for each section of the building took just two days. The prefabricated timber elements are produced and installed by the Allgäu-based company Baufritz. In selecting materials, the company uses locally sourced wood and avoids chemical insulation and additives, thereby meeting the highest standard for sustainable building materials.

Due to the specific weather conditions of the Alpine foothills – with very low temperatures in winter – any existing gas heaters are being replaced with carbon-neutral wood pellet heating systems. The wood pellets are also locally sourced, and there is no need to replace existing radiators in the apartments. Thanks to the excellent energy standard of the modern-ised buildings, they require significantly less energy for heating.