Web database of sustainable settlements and neighbourhoods

Horseshoe settlement

Photo: Deutsche Wohnen

12359 Berlin-Britz: The Hufeisensiedlung is part of the large housing estate Britz with a total of 1963 apartments for about 5000 residents was built as one of the first social housing estates in Berlin. The architecture of the strongly green settlement proved to be trend-setting. The architects involved in the planning were Bruno Taut, the city building councilor Martin Wagner and the garden architect Leberecht Migge. As a complete ensemble, the estate has been a listed building since 1986. Since 2008 it has been a Unesco World Heritage Site and since 2010 it has also been registered as a garden monument. Completion: 1933

The large housing estate Britz, called "Hufeisensiedlung" after the central building group, was built in 1925-33 (in seven construction phases) according to plans by Bruno Taut. Its more than 1000 apartments are standardized according to only four floor plan types. All buildings are lined up in rows, and the single-family houses are each assigned a tenant garden (originally also in the inner horseshoe). Martin Wagner designed the apartment block at Stavenhagener Straße 4-32 with its sweeping staircases. By means of projections and recesses of individual buildings, plaza-like extensions, rows, symmetry and interplay, and above all by means of colour as a favourable design element, monotony is avoided and each street is given its own character.

The privatisation of the former sole owner GEHAG, now Deutsche Wohnen AG, since 1998 and the sale of individual houses since 2000/2001 has led to a fragmentation of ownership in the ensemble of listed buildings.

Information station with cafe
On weekends, the information station is open at Fritz-Reuter-Allee 44, which also has a café with information material.

Links
www.hufeisensiedlung.info
www.berlin.de/...hufeisensiedlung-britz.html
www.deutsche-wohnen.com/...berlin-hufeisensiedlung

 



Last Updated: June 13, 2020

Similar projects on sdg21:
All project/s of the planning office: Bruno Taut; Urban region: Berlin and surrounding area; Country: Germany; Characteristics: 03 - 4 floors, Garden City; typology: Settlement; Thematic: Monument protection, Historic settlements and neighbourhoods before 1980, Rainwater infiltration

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