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🧵: I’m in Heidelberg 🇩🇪 today and have made my way to Bahnstadt, to take a closer look at what an entire neighborhood of #Passivhaus looks like...1/ 
Large portions of the district are still under construction, but much of the central boulevard and offshoot streets, mostly comprised of residential units, are complete. 2/
While it’s clear that much care has been taken on the details of each building - and carefully balancing public and private spaces using interior courtyards, alleys and pedestrianized streetscapes - I’m struggling with the relentless boxiness & homoginaeity of it all. 3/
This feels like the ultimate ‘city as machine,’ brilliantly exemplified by its flagship building - the iconic office complex that sits directly across from the Bahnhof - gleaming brightly in today’s winter sun. 4/
With those transformer-like mechanical shades, raised or lowered to shut out the glare, but perhaps something else beyond the marvel of its own gleaming armor? 5/
Thankfully some delightful relief, in the form of this organically-shaped, kindergarten, lay just beyond, its larch-cladding completely wrapping both building and attached playground. 6/
Judging by the squeals of delight filtering through the fencing, plus the impressive set of entry plaques, this is a happy building. 7/
Heading back to the old town now to wend my way along it’s narrow cobbled streets (to my old, stuffy hotel with condensation on the windows) wishing that urban planers may someday deliver neighborhoods that match the humanity of #Passivhaus. /Fin.
