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

Design

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

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

The planning was 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 Strasse and on the other by blocks facing Perlacher Strasse that follow the street’s slight curve. The block on Deisenhofener Strasse is distinguished by its overheight corner buildings.

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

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 apartments on the 11.5-hectare site.

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

Facilities

A shower and tub bathroom was provided for the tenants of the smallest apartments without bathrooms, but 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, which were executed by his painting class at the Meisterschule für das Deutsche Malerhandwerk in Munich.

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.