gewoge AG

gewoge AG is a German housing company based in Aachen, where it operates as the largest landlord in the region. It was founded in 1891 as the Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft für Aachen und Burtscheid, a non-profit building society created to provide affordable and healthy housing for the less affluent population. From its earliest years the company built workers' settlements and apartment blocks that helped shape the city's urban landscape, and it remains a defining presence in Aachen's residential property market. The company's portfolio spans apartments in nearly all parts of Aachen, and its official website presents it as the largest landlord of the region. Its core business is the letting and management of rental housing, supported by tenant services, a housing search platform, and a registration process for prospective tenants. The company's history is closely tied to the city's social housing tradition: early developments such as the Kolonie Sandkaulstrasse (1898) were designed with communal amenities, and the company later expanded into new housing estates and intergenerational living projects. Ownership has evolved over time. The city of Aachen became a shareholder in 1941, and in 1958 the city transferred the management of its entire housing stock to the company. Today gewoge AG operates as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) with its headquarters in Aachen. Its website lists contact details, opening hours, and current rental offers, reflecting its role as a direct service provider to tenants and housing seekers in the region.

The company was founded in 1891 as the Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft für Aachen und Burtscheid, a non-profit building society dedicated to providing affordable and healthy housing for the less affluent population. In its early years it was among the largest housing construction companies in Aachen, alongside the Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-Aktien-Gesellschaft (Aachener Hüttenverein department), the Bauverein Siegelhöhe, and the Gartenstadt-Gesellschaft Beverau. By 1912 the company had an operating capital of 750,000 Mark, with 30 shareholders contributing 300,000 Mark and 450,000 Mark borrowed from banks. Six years after its founding it already owned 192 apartments in 17 buildings. The first architecturally cohesive housing estate, the Kolonie Sandkaulstrasse, was inaugurated in 1898. The original goal was to provide inexpensive and "healthy apartments for the less affluent population." In 1910, Aachen's housing stock was dominated by small apartments: 28,336 apartments (78% of the total) had only one to three rooms including the kitchen. Initially the plan was to build primarily two-room apartments, but by 1911, 51.6% of the apartments were three-room units. A notable feature was that apartments were rented with protection against termination. Apartments were generally not rented to single individuals, except for older persons, and preference was given to low-income families with at least three children. The society built several workers' settlements in the city, initially near the Königstor (Königstraße / Bärenstraße), on Passstraße, a complex of ten houses on Sandkaulstraße, and the Hanbruch settlement. In designing the estates, great importance was placed on maximum comfort despite low rents. Facades were kept in light plaster, enlivened with brick elements, external timber framing, and flower niches. Buildings had indoor toilets, water connections, and garbage disposal systems (chutes) on each floor. Each apartment had a private cellar, and communal facilities included playgrounds, reading rooms, drying rooms, and laundry cellars with rainwater pumps. Most estates also had a grocery store and a restaurant. Remarkably, as early as 1910 the company considered using solar heat for natural heating and oriented rooms according to the sun's position. To foster comfort in the estates, the building society launched a flower care competition. Rents in 1912 were considered exemplary low for German inner-city locations: a two-room apartment cost 8.60 Mark, a three-room apartment 14.60 Mark, and a three-room apartment 19.80 Mark. At the start of World War I, the company owned 249 apartments in 22 buildings. After World War I, Aachen's housing situation was catastrophic until the mid-1920s. A private building ban during the war had halted housing construction. Under the Treaty of Versailles, former German areas around Eupen and Malmedy were ceded to Belgium, and many German families moved to Aachen. The city was part of the Belgian-occupied Rhineland until 1928, and numerous residential buildings were confiscated by the occupying power for its members. During the hyperinflation of 1923, many residential properties were sold to Dutch and Belgian citizens, who used the purchasing power advantage of gold-backed guilders and francs to acquire real estate cheaply. In the late 1920s the housing company began new construction and modernization of its older stock. During World War II, 43% of Aachen's residential buildings were destroyed by air raids, including 199 apartments owned by the Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft. Among others, the workers' settlement Sandkaulstraße 87–105 was totally destroyed by an aerial mine and several bombing raids in 1943. The company's headquarters at Kapuzinergraben 16 also fell victim to bombs in 1941. In 1941 the city of Aachen offered the housing company a financial participation and thus became a shareholder. After World War II, in 1958 the city of Aachen transferred the management of its entire housing stock to the housing company. The company's headquarters was established at Kleinmarschierstraße. At that time the Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft für Aachen AG managed around 4,000 apartments in Aachen. In the following period new housing units were built, including on Triererstraße, Hauptstraße, Alkuinstraße, Jägerstraße, Frankenberger Straße, and Elsassstraße (all around 1960), at Roskapellchen (1977), on Hans-Böckler-Allee, and on Schurzelter Straße (1979). Early on, the company also supported intergenerational living projects, such as a housing project for seniors on Joseph-von-Görres-Straße (1967) and the "Generationenwohnprojekt für Alt und Jung" at Steppenberg (1996). In 2003, further developments occurred (the source text is truncated). Today the company operates as gewoge AG and is the largest housing company in Aachen, with its housing estates shaping the cityscape.

• 2003

  Further developments (source text truncated).

• 1996

  "Generationenwohnprojekt für Alt und Jung" at Steppenberg.

• 1979

  New housing units on Hans-Böckler-Allee and Schurzelter Straße.

• 1977

  New housing units at Roskapellchen.

• 1967

  Housing project for seniors on Joseph-von-Görres-Straße.

• 1958

  City of Aachen transferred management of its entire housing stock to the company; managed around 4,000 apartments.

• 1941

  City of Aachen became a shareholder; company headquarters destroyed by bombs.

• 1914

  At the start of World War I, owned 249 apartments in 22 buildings.

• 1912

  Operating capital of 750,000 Mark; 30 shareholders contributed 300,000 Mark.

• 1898

  First architecturally cohesive housing estate, Kolonie Sandkaulstrasse, inaugurated.

• 1891

  Founded as Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft für Aachen und Burtscheid.

Largest landlord in the Aachen region, rooted in a non-profit housing tradition and offering apartments in nearly all locations of Aachen.

• Rental apartments

  Apartments in nearly all locations of Aachen, offered for rent.

• Social housing

  Affordable housing rooted in the company's non-profit tradition.

• Housing management services

  Management of housing stock, including for the city of Aachen since 1958.

1. 1Startseite - gewoge AGgewoge-aachen.de
2. 2Gewoge - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Gewoge - Wikidatawikidata.org