DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0035
STUTTGART 1927
Die Wohnung exhibition, Weissenhof housing estate
July 23 - early October
31
The Stuttgart exhibition combined an exposition section with a newly-built model housing estate
located on Weissenhof Hill. The invitation to participate in its design and construction was extend-
ed to 17 avant-garde architects from 5 countries: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Adolf G.Schneck,
Walter Gropius, Ludwig Hilbeseimer, Bruno Taut, Max Taut, Hans Poelzig, Richard Docker,
Adolf Rading, Peter Behrens, Hans Scharoun of Germany; Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud, Mart
Stam of Holland; Victor Bourgeois of Belgium; Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret of France; Josef
Frank of Austria. The planning conception, developed by Mies van der Rohe, envisioned blocks
of flats and detached houses in semi and fully-detached arrangements.
The Wohnung exhibition was organised by the German Werkbund under the auspices of its Wir-
temberg section (Wurtembergische Arbeitsgemainschaft). In the spring of 1926, the City of
Stuttgart decided to commission about 60 housing units in the form of a unified housing estate
under its housing construction programme for the years 1926/1927. The idea was tabled by Mies van
der Rohe, the Werkbund's second consecutive president, and was approved by the City Planning
Commission (Stadterweiterungsamt). Mies van der Rohe also became the project's artistic director.
The objectives of the Wohnung exhibition and model housing estate were formulated in the
project's programmatic manifesto published in December 1926.109 The document advocated the
facilitation and development of new ideas so far stalled by the lack of opportunities to test them in
practice. Those responsible for the housing development were criticised for showing too little inter-
est in new trends. The authors point to developing new layouts, responding to the needs of modern
residents, as the priority. The new approach should ensure the modern apartment's comfort and
functionality while reducing its size.110This process entailed the rethinking of the functional design
of the small apartment as the funds allocated for its construction were usually modest and thus had
to be spent particularly judiciously.111
As important as the new arrangement of the living space was the technological change that
focused on new types of construction and building materials. The authors observed that the hous-
ing industry had for too long resisted industrialisation and standardisation and it did not challenge
105 Johannes CRAMER, Niels GUTSCHOW, Bauausstellungen. EineArchitekturgeschichtedes20. Jahrhunderts. Stuttgart 1984, p.124. The document
was signed by the project's principal organisers: Werkbundund's first president Peter Bruckmann and secondary presidents Mies van der Rohe
together with Gustav Stotz and Geh. Hofrat.
110 lit was emphasised that the size and number of rooms should correspond with the residents' basic needs: shelter, eating, sleeping, personal
hygiene, washing, and cooking.
111 It was suggested that the necessary condition for a proper small fiat were such elements as built-in closets and a fully-furnished kitchen.
Simplified, streamlined and functional, fitted cabinetry was to facilitate housekeeping.
Die Wohnung exhibition, Weissenhof housing estate
July 23 - early October
31
The Stuttgart exhibition combined an exposition section with a newly-built model housing estate
located on Weissenhof Hill. The invitation to participate in its design and construction was extend-
ed to 17 avant-garde architects from 5 countries: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Adolf G.Schneck,
Walter Gropius, Ludwig Hilbeseimer, Bruno Taut, Max Taut, Hans Poelzig, Richard Docker,
Adolf Rading, Peter Behrens, Hans Scharoun of Germany; Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud, Mart
Stam of Holland; Victor Bourgeois of Belgium; Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret of France; Josef
Frank of Austria. The planning conception, developed by Mies van der Rohe, envisioned blocks
of flats and detached houses in semi and fully-detached arrangements.
The Wohnung exhibition was organised by the German Werkbund under the auspices of its Wir-
temberg section (Wurtembergische Arbeitsgemainschaft). In the spring of 1926, the City of
Stuttgart decided to commission about 60 housing units in the form of a unified housing estate
under its housing construction programme for the years 1926/1927. The idea was tabled by Mies van
der Rohe, the Werkbund's second consecutive president, and was approved by the City Planning
Commission (Stadterweiterungsamt). Mies van der Rohe also became the project's artistic director.
The objectives of the Wohnung exhibition and model housing estate were formulated in the
project's programmatic manifesto published in December 1926.109 The document advocated the
facilitation and development of new ideas so far stalled by the lack of opportunities to test them in
practice. Those responsible for the housing development were criticised for showing too little inter-
est in new trends. The authors point to developing new layouts, responding to the needs of modern
residents, as the priority. The new approach should ensure the modern apartment's comfort and
functionality while reducing its size.110This process entailed the rethinking of the functional design
of the small apartment as the funds allocated for its construction were usually modest and thus had
to be spent particularly judiciously.111
As important as the new arrangement of the living space was the technological change that
focused on new types of construction and building materials. The authors observed that the hous-
ing industry had for too long resisted industrialisation and standardisation and it did not challenge
105 Johannes CRAMER, Niels GUTSCHOW, Bauausstellungen. EineArchitekturgeschichtedes20. Jahrhunderts. Stuttgart 1984, p.124. The document
was signed by the project's principal organisers: Werkbundund's first president Peter Bruckmann and secondary presidents Mies van der Rohe
together with Gustav Stotz and Geh. Hofrat.
110 lit was emphasised that the size and number of rooms should correspond with the residents' basic needs: shelter, eating, sleeping, personal
hygiene, washing, and cooking.
111 It was suggested that the necessary condition for a proper small fiat were such elements as built-in closets and a fully-furnished kitchen.
Simplified, streamlined and functional, fitted cabinetry was to facilitate housekeeping.