Munich: Walchenseeplatz

1927 – 1930

Architects: Hans Atzenbeck, Joseph Duerr, Hans Grünzweig, Carl Jäger, Fritz Landauer, Hanna Löv, Fritz Männche, Max Schoen

Deisenhofener Straße, Perlacher Straße, Walchenseeplatz, Munich, Germany

Concept

The plans for the Walchenseeplatz housing estate in Obergiesing were developed by Gemeinnützige Wohnungsfürsorge AG from 1927 to 1930 as part of Munich’s large housing estate program. The plans are based on a preliminary design by architect Hanna Löv.

Carl Jäger oversaw construction of the settlement. Fritz Landauer, Hans Atzenbeck, Max Schön, Joseph Dürr, Hans Grünzweig, and Fritz Mannchen were assigned to the project as part of a job creation program for architects.

The plans were based on the development of the north side of Walchenseeplatz.

Stockwerk Estate Walchenseeplatz

The estate is shielded on one side by elongated, four-story blocks facing Deisenhofener Street and on the other by blocks facing Perlacher Street that follow its slight curve. The block on Deisenhofener Street is distinguished by its taller corner buildings.

The four-story row buildings inside the settlement face from north to south. The courtyards are spacious and traffic-calmed, with areas for playing and drying laundry, and are partly screened by one-story buildings at the ends of the rows.

Only two-thirds of the planned housing estate was realized.

Apartments

The original concept could not be implemented due to the economic crisis. Only 862 apartments were built by 1930 instead of the planned 1,170 on the 11.5-hectare site.

The apartments, ranging from 45 to 100 square meters, were located in four-story buildings featuring various designs. Twenty-six stores and a restaurant were also built on the site.

Facilities

A bathroom with a shower and tub was provided for tenants of the smallest apartments, which did not have bathrooms. However, it has since been demolished.

All other apartments were equipped with a kitchen/living room, bathroom, toilet, and stove heating.

Sgraffito

Lois Gruber designed the sgraffito and fresco paintings on the house facades. His painting class at the Meisterschule für das Deutsche Malerhandwerk in Munich executed them.

Fountains

Two fountains were also installed on the estate. The Brunnenbuberl fountain, designed by Walther von Hattingberg, was built in 1930 at Walchenseeplatz. The “Pinguin-Brunnen” fountain, designed by Adolf Giesin, was completed in 1931 in the courtyard at Perlacher Straße 57.