DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0287
288
Gallery-access block of flats (Laubenganghaus)
DESCRIPTION (as of 1929):
The building (45 m long, 10 m wide, 11 m high), of a simple cubic form, was economical and functional,
with no artistic ambitions. The windows opened towards the eastern and western side, which was an
unusual alignment for a gallery-access block of flats; (the typical alignment was with the east-west line,
which resulted in southern exposure of the rooms and northern exposure of the kitchen and bath-
room). The building's advantage was the reduced passageway area545: one staircase served six apart-
ments on each floor, they were accessible from the gallery.546 Accessed directly from the gallery, the
living quarters were well ventilated. The first floor (in fact a raised basement) was designated for work-
shops and storage rooms (for bicycles, baby-carriages). The galleries were located on the western side;
the kitchens, bathrooms and storage rooms faced the gallery, while the living rooms and bedrooms
opened towards the east. Six larger flats (60 m2) comprised of three rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom;
the smaller apartments (48 m2) had two rooms, a kitchen or kitchen annex, a bathroom, and a storage
room. Some apartments had a living kitchen.547 Six different layouts were tested. The size of the apart-
ments referred to the Rfg guidelines, defining the optimal standard size of the apartment in relation to
the size of the family: 45 m2, 57 m2, 70 m2. The underlying idea of the gallery-access apartment block
designed by Heim and Kempter was to test this solution in the specific Silesian climate.548
CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN:
No changes affecting the building's original form changed the function of the external building which
was originally designed as a shelter for passengers waiting for a tram where one could also buy milk
and newspapers; today a hair studio.
TECHNICAL CONDITION: good
NUMBER AND DATE OF ENTRY IN THE REGISTER OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS:
366/Wm, 18.01.1979
545 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., table 96. The ratio of the dwelling area to the area meant for passageways was 4:1 (393,2 m2: 100,16 m2).
546 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op.cit., p.342. According to the building's designers the gallery should provide access to no more than ten flats per
floor.
547 Living kitchen connected to and only accessible from the living room was typical of Silesia.
548 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op. cit., p.342. See: Gustav LAMPMANN, op. cit., p.465, Georg MUNTER, op.cit., p.443.
Gallery-access block of flats (Laubenganghaus)
DESCRIPTION (as of 1929):
The building (45 m long, 10 m wide, 11 m high), of a simple cubic form, was economical and functional,
with no artistic ambitions. The windows opened towards the eastern and western side, which was an
unusual alignment for a gallery-access block of flats; (the typical alignment was with the east-west line,
which resulted in southern exposure of the rooms and northern exposure of the kitchen and bath-
room). The building's advantage was the reduced passageway area545: one staircase served six apart-
ments on each floor, they were accessible from the gallery.546 Accessed directly from the gallery, the
living quarters were well ventilated. The first floor (in fact a raised basement) was designated for work-
shops and storage rooms (for bicycles, baby-carriages). The galleries were located on the western side;
the kitchens, bathrooms and storage rooms faced the gallery, while the living rooms and bedrooms
opened towards the east. Six larger flats (60 m2) comprised of three rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom;
the smaller apartments (48 m2) had two rooms, a kitchen or kitchen annex, a bathroom, and a storage
room. Some apartments had a living kitchen.547 Six different layouts were tested. The size of the apart-
ments referred to the Rfg guidelines, defining the optimal standard size of the apartment in relation to
the size of the family: 45 m2, 57 m2, 70 m2. The underlying idea of the gallery-access apartment block
designed by Heim and Kempter was to test this solution in the specific Silesian climate.548
CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN:
No changes affecting the building's original form changed the function of the external building which
was originally designed as a shelter for passengers waiting for a tram where one could also buy milk
and newspapers; today a hair studio.
TECHNICAL CONDITION: good
NUMBER AND DATE OF ENTRY IN THE REGISTER OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS:
366/Wm, 18.01.1979
545 Guido HARBERS, op.cit., table 96. The ratio of the dwelling area to the area meant for passageways was 4:1 (393,2 m2: 100,16 m2).
546 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op.cit., p.342. According to the building's designers the gallery should provide access to no more than ten flats per
floor.
547 Living kitchen connected to and only accessible from the living room was typical of Silesia.
548 Adolf ROTHENBERG, op. cit., p.342. See: Gustav LAMPMANN, op. cit., p.465, Georg MUNTER, op.cit., p.443.