DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0031
The Deutscher Werkbund and its counterparts in Switzerland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia held
a number of exhibitions to present contemporary developments in domestic architecture and con-
struction. Accompanied by model housing estates, the exhibitions summed up the attempts at solv-
ing the housing problem undertaken in the first post-war years. The experimental estates were to
test the functional premises of the New Architecture and present new designs as well as construction
methods for apartment blocks and modest houses that could be built inexpensively on a large scale.
The aim was to reduce construction costs while optimising the effect. Interior design and household
organisation, furniture and its arrangement were also addressed.
The topical Wohnung exhibition, devoted to modern domestic architecture and living space de-
sign, organised under the Werkbund's auspices in Stuttgart in 1927105, became a significant event.
The exhibition was accompanied by the Weissenhofsiedlung, a model housing estate erected on
Weissenhof Hill. It became a testing ground for new materials, construction methods and design ap-
proaches. Distinguished architects from five countries, known for their progressive ideas, were in-
vited to participate.106 The buildings followed the five principles of modern architecture, formulated
by Le Corbusier in 1915: the structure elevated on concrete pillars (pilotis) leaving the ground beneath
it free; a flat rooftop terrace that may be transformed into a garden; open floor plan; free facade; win-
dows arranged in horizontal strips, emphasising the independence of the structural frame.107
The Stuttgart exhibition presented a compendium of contemporary developments in domestic
architecture and construction methods. Although conceived as an experimental colony to deter-
mine the principles of modern serial construction, it failed to supply cost-effective solutions as the
buildings proved to be too expensive.
Over the five years following it, a number of experimental housing estates were erected, usu-
ally accompanying large-scale exhibition projects: Novy Dun in Brno (Zabovcesky district) as part
of the Modern Czechoslovak Culture exhibition (1928); Dammerstock in Karlsruhe, accompanying Die
Gebrauchswohnung (Functional Flat) exhibition (1929); Eglisee in Basel, part of the WOBA exhibition
(1930); Neubuhl in Zurich (1931); BABA in Prague (1932); Lainz in Vienna (1932).
105 Two architects from Wroclaw, Adolf Rading and Hans Scharoun, participated in the Stuttgart exhibition. They would later become involved
in the WUWA project.
106 Architects were given freedom to experiment with apartment layouts, structural solutions and building materials. The only specified
requirement was a flat roof.
107 Helena SYRKUS, Ku/c/e/..., p.46. A structure supported by pillars is a logical result of employing reinforced concrete or steel. The pillars take on
load bearing functions traditionally incurred by the walls making free planning, free elevation and elongated horizontal windows possible.
27
a number of exhibitions to present contemporary developments in domestic architecture and con-
struction. Accompanied by model housing estates, the exhibitions summed up the attempts at solv-
ing the housing problem undertaken in the first post-war years. The experimental estates were to
test the functional premises of the New Architecture and present new designs as well as construction
methods for apartment blocks and modest houses that could be built inexpensively on a large scale.
The aim was to reduce construction costs while optimising the effect. Interior design and household
organisation, furniture and its arrangement were also addressed.
The topical Wohnung exhibition, devoted to modern domestic architecture and living space de-
sign, organised under the Werkbund's auspices in Stuttgart in 1927105, became a significant event.
The exhibition was accompanied by the Weissenhofsiedlung, a model housing estate erected on
Weissenhof Hill. It became a testing ground for new materials, construction methods and design ap-
proaches. Distinguished architects from five countries, known for their progressive ideas, were in-
vited to participate.106 The buildings followed the five principles of modern architecture, formulated
by Le Corbusier in 1915: the structure elevated on concrete pillars (pilotis) leaving the ground beneath
it free; a flat rooftop terrace that may be transformed into a garden; open floor plan; free facade; win-
dows arranged in horizontal strips, emphasising the independence of the structural frame.107
The Stuttgart exhibition presented a compendium of contemporary developments in domestic
architecture and construction methods. Although conceived as an experimental colony to deter-
mine the principles of modern serial construction, it failed to supply cost-effective solutions as the
buildings proved to be too expensive.
Over the five years following it, a number of experimental housing estates were erected, usu-
ally accompanying large-scale exhibition projects: Novy Dun in Brno (Zabovcesky district) as part
of the Modern Czechoslovak Culture exhibition (1928); Dammerstock in Karlsruhe, accompanying Die
Gebrauchswohnung (Functional Flat) exhibition (1929); Eglisee in Basel, part of the WOBA exhibition
(1930); Neubuhl in Zurich (1931); BABA in Prague (1932); Lainz in Vienna (1932).
105 Two architects from Wroclaw, Adolf Rading and Hans Scharoun, participated in the Stuttgart exhibition. They would later become involved
in the WUWA project.
106 Architects were given freedom to experiment with apartment layouts, structural solutions and building materials. The only specified
requirement was a flat roof.
107 Helena SYRKUS, Ku/c/e/..., p.46. A structure supported by pillars is a logical result of employing reinforced concrete or steel. The pillars take on
load bearing functions traditionally incurred by the walls making free planning, free elevation and elongated horizontal windows possible.
27