Karlsruhe: Dammerstock Estate Gate

1928 – 1929

Architect: Otto Haesler

Nürnberger Straße 1-5, Karlsruhe, Germany

Dammerstock

The Dammerstock housing developement in Karlsruhe, Germany, is one of the most significant examples of the New Building movement. The estate was the result of an architectural competition won by Walter Gropius in 1928.

Cooperative Building Associations

Due to a lack of construction activity during World War I, Germany experienced a catastrophic housing shortage in the 1920s.

Although construction resumed after inflation ended in 1924 and the economy recovered, housing remained unaffordable for the lower middle class.

For this reason, cooperative building associations were founded in numerous cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Dessau, Breslau, and Karlsruhe. These associations built new, affordable housing estates.

Dammerstock Site, Karlsruhe

In 1928, the city of Karlsruhe announced a competition to develop the city-owned Dammerstock site. The goal was to build small and very small apartments for middle- and lower-income families by mid-1929.

Eight outside architects were invited to participate, including Walter Gropius, Otto Haesler, Richard Döcker, Franz Roeckle, Max Schmechel and Wilhelm Riphahn with Caspar Maria Grod.

Additionally, 43 local Karlsruhe architects participated in the competition.

Prominent members of the jury included Ernst May, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Otto Völckers, among others.

First prize went to Walter Gropius’s concept, followed by Otto Haesler’s plan.

Gropius then became the artistic director and determined the design guidelines for the estate. He also coordinated the activities of the architects involved in the project.

Row Construction

Gropius‘s most significant planning concept was the row construction method. Instead of the conventional perimeter block development, buildings were constructed in parallel rows running north to south. The ends of these rows were alternately provided with transverse head buildings. This design optimized sun exposure, providing light to bedrooms in the morning and living rooms in the afternoon.

In October 1929, the city presented the model housing estate to the public in an exhibition titled “Die Gebrauchswohnung.” Kurt Schwitters designed the accompanying publications.

Gate Building

In 1928, architect Otto Haesler of Celle designed the multifunctional entrance building for the housing estate. It included a restaurant, a tenant’s apartment, a district heating plant, a central laundry building, and three additional apartments with garages.

Kurt Schwitters

He designed the lettering and schematic ground plan of the settlement on the gate building.

Central Heating System and Laundry Building

The two-story building, which contains a central heating system and a laundry room was completed between 1928 and 1929 according to plans by Otto Haesler. In 1974, architects Rossmann and Partner remodeled the building to be used as an architectural office.

Additional interior windows preserve the original ventilation flaps.

Restoration and Current Use

Due to the global economic crisis, only 228 of the planned 750 apartments in the Dammerstock housing development were built.

Construction of the settlement according to Gropius’s original plans did not resume until after 1949.

Since then, the estate has been renovated in accordance with the preservation order and remains fully inhabited.