Emilja Residential Building, CH-Biel/Bienne

Emilja is an innovative, nonprofit housing project by the FAB-A cooperative and, following Fabrikgässli, the cooperative’s second property. On the site of the former Spiesssite in the heart of Biel, a place is taking shape that will provide affordable, community-oriented housing for about 40 people while also being socially and environmentally sustainable. The new building, located in the immediate vicinity of Zentralplatz, will be shaped from the very beginning by its future residents:and the local community. Through the open planning process, a place is being created that fosters encounters, exchange, and mutual support.

The planning process itself is continuously evaluated. In this process, the experiences, feedback, and perspectives of all participants are taken into account — from members of the cooperative to neighborhood residents to urban planners. Surveys, interviews, and open feedback formats are used to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The insights gained in this way are directly incorporated into the project’s further development and shared on the web platform and within professional networks. In this way, Emilja becomes not only a construction project but also a model for community-based and future-oriented planning.