DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0219
Blocks of flats and multi-unit houses
219
"Structural problems and those related to the buildings' architectural form and layout have been
worked out perfectly. [...] Even if there are some shortcomings (building No. 31 by Hans Scharoun
and Rading's No. 7), which may be expected in experimental undertakings, the overall result is an
impressive achievement for Eastern Germany."449 The WUWA architects addressed important social
and economic issues yet the future occupants would prove far less enthusiastic about their apart-
ments and during the first three years the rotation rate would be high.450
In particular, Rading's apartment block (No. 7) was criticised for inadequate lighting of four apart-
ments facing north and loggias that obscured light; the layouts with a toilet or bedroom accessible
only through the kitchen or the kitchen annex and for windows of the wrong size - too small in the
kitchens and too large in the bathrooms; for inadequate ventilation 451 and disproportionately large
area designated for passageways and communal rooms (38% of the dwelling area).452 On the one
hand, the building was praised for its architectural form, which would have been even more impres-
sive had the structure been taller- as was originally planned.453 On the other hand, a Polish visitor
scoffed at "the superficial oriels and decorative additions, distracting the integrity of the building's
architectural form which, particularly in its upper section, produces the unpleasant effect of the
outdated French Art Nouveau. Besides, it makes no sense to discuss the proportions of the building
which was initially envisioned as taller but built in an abridged version."454
The very idea of the high-rise as a solution to the housing problem was rejected for social rea-
sons.455 By providing communal rooms (on the ground floor and two per floor on the two upper
floors, on each side of the corridor), the architect tried to impose his vision of collective living in an
integrated "commune".456 This promise of social utopia required the moulding of a "collective men-
tality" and to many the idea seemed questionable: "Does anybody really believe that it is right to
impose this kind of forced communal living? An individual's worst enemy is another person, at least
449 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.285.
450 O, op.cit., p.298.
451 Ernest NIEMCZYK, 'Nowa forma ...', p.450; Gustav LAMPMANN, op. cit., p.463; Guido HARBERS, op.cit., table 98/99.
452 Georg MUNTER, op.cit., table 98/99. This is not an economical solution because the long and dark corridor cannot be considered an
adequate setting for communal activities. See: Hans GERLACH, 'Die Grabmonumente der neuen Sachlichkeit. Betrachtungen zur Breslauer
Werkbundsiedlung', Die Wohnung, Zeitschrift fur Bau- und Wohnungswesen 1929, vol. 4, no. 7, p. 213-220. In: Lubomir SLAPETA, Vladimir SLAPETA,
op. cit., p.1439.
453 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.288.
454 Edgar NORWERTH, op.cit., p.330; Georg MUNTER, op.cit., p.442.
455 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.294. 'Even prominent architects cannot be given the right to use their authority, talent and skill to promote
antisocial and reactionary ideas'.
456 Edgar NORWERTH, op.cit., p.330. 'The experiment cannot be regarded as successful, although the designation ofthe communal rooms is not
very precise, their use will certainly depend on the cultural background and disposition of the building's future occupants. The layout of the
small-sized flats (around 60 m2) does not seem well suited to the needs of their prospective occupants'.
219
"Structural problems and those related to the buildings' architectural form and layout have been
worked out perfectly. [...] Even if there are some shortcomings (building No. 31 by Hans Scharoun
and Rading's No. 7), which may be expected in experimental undertakings, the overall result is an
impressive achievement for Eastern Germany."449 The WUWA architects addressed important social
and economic issues yet the future occupants would prove far less enthusiastic about their apart-
ments and during the first three years the rotation rate would be high.450
In particular, Rading's apartment block (No. 7) was criticised for inadequate lighting of four apart-
ments facing north and loggias that obscured light; the layouts with a toilet or bedroom accessible
only through the kitchen or the kitchen annex and for windows of the wrong size - too small in the
kitchens and too large in the bathrooms; for inadequate ventilation 451 and disproportionately large
area designated for passageways and communal rooms (38% of the dwelling area).452 On the one
hand, the building was praised for its architectural form, which would have been even more impres-
sive had the structure been taller- as was originally planned.453 On the other hand, a Polish visitor
scoffed at "the superficial oriels and decorative additions, distracting the integrity of the building's
architectural form which, particularly in its upper section, produces the unpleasant effect of the
outdated French Art Nouveau. Besides, it makes no sense to discuss the proportions of the building
which was initially envisioned as taller but built in an abridged version."454
The very idea of the high-rise as a solution to the housing problem was rejected for social rea-
sons.455 By providing communal rooms (on the ground floor and two per floor on the two upper
floors, on each side of the corridor), the architect tried to impose his vision of collective living in an
integrated "commune".456 This promise of social utopia required the moulding of a "collective men-
tality" and to many the idea seemed questionable: "Does anybody really believe that it is right to
impose this kind of forced communal living? An individual's worst enemy is another person, at least
449 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.285.
450 O, op.cit., p.298.
451 Ernest NIEMCZYK, 'Nowa forma ...', p.450; Gustav LAMPMANN, op. cit., p.463; Guido HARBERS, op.cit., table 98/99.
452 Georg MUNTER, op.cit., table 98/99. This is not an economical solution because the long and dark corridor cannot be considered an
adequate setting for communal activities. See: Hans GERLACH, 'Die Grabmonumente der neuen Sachlichkeit. Betrachtungen zur Breslauer
Werkbundsiedlung', Die Wohnung, Zeitschrift fur Bau- und Wohnungswesen 1929, vol. 4, no. 7, p. 213-220. In: Lubomir SLAPETA, Vladimir SLAPETA,
op. cit., p.1439.
453 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.288.
454 Edgar NORWERTH, op.cit., p.330; Georg MUNTER, op.cit., p.442.
455 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., p.294. 'Even prominent architects cannot be given the right to use their authority, talent and skill to promote
antisocial and reactionary ideas'.
456 Edgar NORWERTH, op.cit., p.330. 'The experiment cannot be regarded as successful, although the designation ofthe communal rooms is not
very precise, their use will certainly depend on the cultural background and disposition of the building's future occupants. The layout of the
small-sized flats (around 60 m2) does not seem well suited to the needs of their prospective occupants'.