DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0225
Structural solutions, construction methods and building materials
225
It was emphasised that "thanks to the competent management at the construction site, the prog-
ress had been impressive, despite the extremely low temperatures that would not subside until the
late spring of 1929." 507 The exhibition opened according to schedule but the very difficult weather
conditions could have contributed to structural defects that appeared during the first three years
after its completion. The estate's peculiar features were flat roofs with roof-top garden terraces. They
would be mercilessly criticised as an impractical and harmful extravagance once the first cracks ap-
peared.508
One commentator remarked with biting irony: "The modern architect who ignores the burden
of practical skills, does not bother himself with such details."509
Rading's high-rise was severely criticised for its glazed partitions that would not slide, no system
to drain away water condensing on the glazed walls, the lack of window sills, and inadequate ven-
tilation.510 Scharoun's building earned its portion of criticism for structural defects (plastered walls
began to crack during the first three years after its completion), inadequate drainage of the roof
terraces and improperly mounted window casements. Some implored that never again should such
poor building standards be accepted in Germany!511
The achitect's and builder's lack of experience with new materials, whose behaviour was unreli-
able, and with new construction methods resulted in many defects, caused by damp, inadequate
planking, poor insulation and casements improperly framed in window openings. After the first
three years, piasterwork had to be redone in some buildings. After all, the notorious Lower Silesian
climate proved not easy to beat.
Costs
After 1927 the focus was on economy and sequential construction rather than formal experiments.
However, like the other Werkbund estates, the WUWA estate failed to provide affordable housing.
New technologies, still in the experimental stage, could not have been cheap. At the time when
there was no modern building industry and the quantity of factory work on building components
was low, experimental buildings conceived as prototypes for sequential construction were often
more costly than those employing traditional technologies.
507 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op.cit., p.342. See: MEINCK, op.cit., p.156. The estate was built in only three months as a particularly bitter winter lasted
through mid-March and the opening was scheduled for June 15th 1929 explosive materials had to be used to dig foundation trenches in the
frozen earth.
508 0., op.cit., p.298.
509 Ibidem.
5,0 Ibidem.
511 Ibidem, p.300.
225
It was emphasised that "thanks to the competent management at the construction site, the prog-
ress had been impressive, despite the extremely low temperatures that would not subside until the
late spring of 1929." 507 The exhibition opened according to schedule but the very difficult weather
conditions could have contributed to structural defects that appeared during the first three years
after its completion. The estate's peculiar features were flat roofs with roof-top garden terraces. They
would be mercilessly criticised as an impractical and harmful extravagance once the first cracks ap-
peared.508
One commentator remarked with biting irony: "The modern architect who ignores the burden
of practical skills, does not bother himself with such details."509
Rading's high-rise was severely criticised for its glazed partitions that would not slide, no system
to drain away water condensing on the glazed walls, the lack of window sills, and inadequate ven-
tilation.510 Scharoun's building earned its portion of criticism for structural defects (plastered walls
began to crack during the first three years after its completion), inadequate drainage of the roof
terraces and improperly mounted window casements. Some implored that never again should such
poor building standards be accepted in Germany!511
The achitect's and builder's lack of experience with new materials, whose behaviour was unreli-
able, and with new construction methods resulted in many defects, caused by damp, inadequate
planking, poor insulation and casements improperly framed in window openings. After the first
three years, piasterwork had to be redone in some buildings. After all, the notorious Lower Silesian
climate proved not easy to beat.
Costs
After 1927 the focus was on economy and sequential construction rather than formal experiments.
However, like the other Werkbund estates, the WUWA estate failed to provide affordable housing.
New technologies, still in the experimental stage, could not have been cheap. At the time when
there was no modern building industry and the quantity of factory work on building components
was low, experimental buildings conceived as prototypes for sequential construction were often
more costly than those employing traditional technologies.
507 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op.cit., p.342. See: MEINCK, op.cit., p.156. The estate was built in only three months as a particularly bitter winter lasted
through mid-March and the opening was scheduled for June 15th 1929 explosive materials had to be used to dig foundation trenches in the
frozen earth.
508 0., op.cit., p.298.
509 Ibidem.
5,0 Ibidem.
511 Ibidem, p.300.