Stuttgart: Friedrich-Ebert-Wohnhof

1927 – 1929

Architect: Karl Beer

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

Friedrich-Ebert-Wohnhof

The Friedrich Ebert residential complex is located across from the residential buildings designed by Hans Scharoun and Peter Behrens. However, it is not part of the Weissenhof Estate.

The housing complex 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 He graduated in 1910 under Clemens Hummel.

Beer ran his own architecture firm until 1915.

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

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

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

Cooperative Housing Complex

Consisting of an eight-story tower house, three five-story residential wings, and a two-story building housing a restaurant and a hall, this complex features numerous elements of Neues Bauen.

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

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

Apartments and Restaurant

The complex has 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

Architect Paul Schmitthenner redesigned the interior in 1938.

Restoration

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

The renovation included the roofs, attics, stairwells, transom windows, balconies, cornices, technical interiors, and outdoor facilities that were added after the war in 1951. All of these elements were refurbished in accordance 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 former high-altitude restaurant was converted into an apartment building.