What are Berlin Modernism Housing Estates and Why are They Significant?

Upon arriving at Berlin we got an introduction with Berlin Modernism Housing Estates.

Berlin Modernism Housing Estates denotes a series of residences constructed in the beginning of the twentieth century Berlin Germany. Such estates are also referred to as “Siedlungen” and were built during what is known as the Weimar Republic era, which was between 1918 and 1933, and were undertaken with the help of some of the best architects with leanings to modernist architecture. Due to their unique concepts and sociological purpose, these housing estates are considered historic architectural ensembles of Berlin.

Historical Background

During the early part of the twentieth century, people in Berlin went particularly through a high population density as well as metropolitanization. a result of this there were poor and cramped housing conditions which gave rise to the need to have efficient and cheap housing. As a result, there is the program, according to which the authorities started to construct the new housing estates, which would be superior to the former ones, in an effort to raise the standard of living among working population and ultimately, to establish social cohesion.

Recognizable Architectural Forms

The Berlin Modernism Housing Estates represent the architecture in an area where the forms range from purity of the Bauhaus over the erotic curves of Art Deco, to the passionate lines of Expressionism. Bruno Taut, Walter Gropius and Martin Wagner are some of the architects who worked on these buildings and represented main ideas of concentration camp complexes construction.

In this section, some of the characteristics of the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates are described.

Functional Laying and Innovative designing

The housing estates were constructed with a purpose of offering cheap and decent homes for the employees. Logical and rational utilization of the internal and external spaces was of great concern to the architects and they integrated many concepts of efficient design. These layouts incorporated good designs of courtyards, floor space and or common facilities of the compounds.

Preservation of Natural Light and Air

However, it was the lighting and the concept of ventilation that proved quite relevant in the design of the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates. Intentional design of admitting a lot of light, ventilation, open balconies and fresh space was done to create a healthy environment for living. The architects acknowledge that sufficient with light and adequate ventilation would help improve the residents physical and even spiritual health.

Social Objectives

Unlike other housing complexes of the old days, the main aim of Berlin modernism housing estates was to bring people together and encourage to interact with each other as neighbors. These facilities included such facilities as laundries, kindergartens and even community centers helping the estates’ inhabitants to interact and cope with this lack.

The Berlin Modernism Housing Estates are also some of the most remarkable buildings of historical significance.

Bruno Taut’s Horseshoe Estate

The Horseshoe Estate constructed in the late 1920s by architect Bruno Taut is in fact one of the exceptional and the most interesting parts of the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates. Bright-coloured exteriors and flexible internal plans lend this estate to the Modernist vision of social progress.

Walter Gropius Siemensstadt Housing Estate

Siemensstadt Housing Estate a building successfully illustrating functionalist architecture, was designed by Walter Gropius and his team from the Bauhaus School. It incorporated both the dwelling houses and industrial buildings so that work and residential areas were in balance.

Conservation and World Heritage Lidest

It is for this reason that several Berlin Modernism Housing Estates have been placed on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage. The estates are managed and rented out with these intentions, to exhibit the importance of the modernist ideas in building and cities.

Conclusion

The Berlin Modernism Housing Estates embody an important era in the architectural history of Berlin; the working population of the city was able to obtain modern housing at relatively low cost. These estates, with their functional planning, design and social purpose still provide a fascinating glimpse of Modernist ideas for contemporary urban planning.


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