Berlin Siedlungen

Berlin is famous for its innovative pre-war housing estates, or Siedlungen. On location in Berlin, we trace their development from the picturesque garden-city style of Staaken, built in 1914, to the work of Taut at Britz and of several architects including Gropius, the director of the Bauhaus, at Siemensstadt just before the war. The later developments boldly proclaim the identity of the Marxist housing associations which built them, in contrast to the more traditional design of neighboring estates. Despite their large-scale composition, made up of blocks of flats, the garden-city ideal is never far away. Open balconies, trees and gardens help to make these some of the best housing estates ever built.

© 1998-2001 The Roland Collection & Pira Intl.