Augsburg: Lessinghof

Lessinghof, 1930-1931. Architect: Thomas Wechs. Photo: Daniela Christmann

1930 – 1931

Architect: Thomas Wechs

Rosenaustraße 70-74, Schlettererstraße 2-12, Augsburg, Germany

In 1930, the Wohnungsbaugesellschaft der Stadt Augsburg GmbH (WBG) commissioned architect Thomas Wechs to design two housing complexes, the Schuberthof and the Lessinghof, on Rosenaustraße.

Thomas Wechs

He was a member of the Circle of Friends of the Bauhaus, founded in 1924 by Walter Gropius.

The city’s only requirement was to create as many low-rent apartments as possible.

Lessinghof

The four-story, flat-roofed buildings adhere entirely to the principles of Neues Bauen, featuring flat roofs, window bands, white plaster, and colored window profiles.

Construction began in the fall of 1930, and the complex was completed on August 1, 1931.

Apartement Types

In total, there were 68 apartments in the Lessinghof, which offered three types of accommodations. The smallest apartments averaged about 70 square meters and had two to three rooms.

The medium-sized apartments averaged 90 square meters and had three to four rooms.

Additionally, there were four large apartments, each with 185 square meters of living space and five rooms.

Each apartment’s floor plan was accessed from a vestibule with a broom closet. Each apartment included a bathroom, kitchen, and pantry.

Facilities

The larger apartments had hot-water floor heating, while the smaller ones had stove heating.

An ironing room and a drying loft were available for all tenants in the attic.

The flat roof allowed for a spacious, bright, and fully usable attic. Additionally, a flat roof was much less expensive than a conventional roof.

The basement contained a laundry room, a coal room, and storage rooms for tenants.

Facades and Building Structure

A recessed circular structure connects both rows of houses. The glazed window corners accentuate the dynamic transition between the cubic and curved building volumes.

The building’s horizontal orientation is emphasized by its horizontal window formats and flat roof.

The building’s continuous, smooth facade facing the street is interrupted only by the projecting roofs of the building entrances.

Courtyard

The courtyard-facing façade is characterized by superimposed semi-circular balconies that accentuate the central axis of each housing unit.

The red and blue window and door frames contrast with the facade’s uniform white plaster.

Conversions and Renovation

In 1949, the dry floors were partially converted into apartments. A workshop building was constructed in the courtyard area in 1959.

A garage wing was built in 1967.

Since 1977, the Lessinghof has been a listed building together with the neighboring Schuberthof.

The housing complex was renovated in the summer of 2004.