Stuttgart: Friedrich-Ebert-Wohnhof

1927 – 1929

Architect: Karl Beer

Hölzelweg 2-8, Am Weißenhof 34-42, Stuttgart

Friedrich-Ebert-Wohnhof

Across from the residential buildings designed by Hans Scharoun and Peter Behrens is the Friedrich Ebert residential complex, which is not part of the Weißenhof Estate.

The housing estate was built between 1927 and 1929 according to plans by architect Karl Beer.

Karl Beer

Karl Beer attended the Baugewerkschule Stuttgart, a predecessor of today’s Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, graduating in 1910 under Clemens Hummel.

He ran his own architecture firm until 1915.

Around 1914, Beer founded the Pfeiffer-Beer architects’ association, which existed until 1920.

From 1921 to 1923, Beer worked as a freelance architect.

After 1924, he focused on cooperative housing construction, particularly for the Bau- und Heimstättenverein Stuttgart.

Cooperative Housing Complex

This complex, which features numerous elements of Neues Bauen, consists of an eight-story tower house, three five-story residential wings, and a two-story building that houses a restaurant and a hall.

Together, these components enclose an irregular four-wing residential courtyard.

The Bau- und Heimstättenverein Stuttgart building cooperative owned the residential complex.

Apartments and Restaurant

The complex comprised a total of 87 apartments, ranging from one to four rooms.

The flat, elongated restaurant wing in front of the tower house was home to the former “Schönblick” excursion restaurant.

Paul Schmitthenner

The interior was redesigned by architect Paul Schmitthenner in 1938.

Restoration

Between 1995 and 1997, the housing complex was renovated by the cooperative Bau- und Heimstättenverein Stuttgart according to plans by the Stuttgart architectural firm Kopper-Schenkel.

This included the roofs, attics, stairwells, transom windows, balconies, cornices, technical interiors, and outdoor facilities added after the war in 1951. All of these elements were refurbished in keeping with the preservation order.

True to the original plans, the light catwalk on the apartment tower, one of the first of its kind in Stuttgart, was also refurbished.

Conversion

From 2008 to 2011, the listed former high-altitude restaurant was converted into an apartment building.