Augsburg: Lessinghof

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1930 – 1931

Architect: Thomas Wechs

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

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

Thomas Wechs

Thomas Wechs was a member of the Circle of Friends of the Bauhaus„ which had been founded in 1924 on the initiative of Walter Gropius.

The only requi­rement on the part of the city was to create as many low-rent apart­ments as possible.

Lessinghof

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

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

Apartement Types

There were 68 apart­ments in the Lessinghof in total with three different types of accom­mo­dation: The smallest living space averaged about 70 square meters with two to three rooms.

The medium-sized apart­ments had an average of 90 square meters with three to four rooms.

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

The floor plans of the apart­ments were accessed from a vestibule with a broom closet. A bathroom, kitchen and pantry were an integral part of each apartment.

Facilities

The larger apart­ments were equipped with hot-water floor heating and the smaller apart­ments with stove heating.

In the attic, an ironing room and a drying loft were available for all tenants.

The flat roof allowed for a spacious, bright, and fully usable attic; in addition, aflat roof proved to be much less expensive than a conven­tional roof solution.

A laundry room, coal room and storage rooms for tenants were located in the basement.

Facades and Building Structure

Both rows of houses are connected by a recessed circular structure. Glazed window corners accen­tuate the dynamic transition between the cubic and curved building volumes.

The horizontal orien­tation of the building is empha­sized by the horizontal window formats and the flat roof.

Its conti­nuous smooth facade facing the street is only inter­rupted by the projecting roofs of the building entrances.

Courtyard

The courtyard-side facade is charac­te­rized by super­im­posed semi-circular balconies that emphasize the central axis of each house unit.

Red and blue window and door frames contrast with the uniform white plaster of the facade.

Conversions and Renovation

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

A garage wing was built in 1967.

Together with the neigh­boring Schuberthof, the Lessinghof has been a listed building since 1977.

In the summer of 2004, the housing complex was renovated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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