The Siedlung Luisenhof I comprises of 3 blocks of
apartments set in communal gardens. Here an impression from an adjoining street
where the gap between the first and second block are clearly visible. A walking
path runs in between giving access to the courtyard gardens within.
Each block has a similar architectural expression on
the outside of the complex, especially around the entrances and hanging widow
bays. The corner of each block has a different detail, like for instance the
third block with a high standing bay across all floors much like a small tower.
The inside is altogether less decorative as this is
the reserve of the inhabitants. All apartments of the northern block look out
over the central garden court that's laid to grass with trees and shrubs
planted around. The strong horizontal lines of the design are broken up by
colour blocking vertically.
All around the outside a wide green verge has been
created to emphasise the insular character of this complex of social housing in
relation to the surrounding housing developed for private landlords. These
public gardens are mostly laid to lawn with some large trees. Only where a
narrow street cuts through the complex do the building adjoin the pavement
directly.
The street that separates blocks 1 and 2 isn't
accessible for motorised traffic, only for pedestrians. This means that the space
for the pavements have been plated with grass and hedges creating a much more
pleasant feel.
The garden courts of blocks 1 and two open onto each
other. Ach garden court has a statue, here one of a harmonica player. As was
the case with block 3 the inside of the block around the garden court has much
more sober architecture.
The garden court of block 2 has notably fewer trees
that are planted symmetrically to emphasise the architecture. This garden court
is well defined by the block around it as this folds in at the edges, thus
creating a separation between apartment blocks 2 and 1.This is the largest of
the garden courts.
The architecture of the outside is very decorative
with a mix of graphic vernacular-inspired ornaments, modernist volumation and great
regularity in the facades. With the green edging the complex the special status
as a housing complex for union members of the Krupp Works is emphasised without
the need for signage.
The garden court of block 1 is very basic with a
square of lawn with some trees. Again colour blocking at the entrances and the
arrangement of the protruding balconies provide vertical accents breaking up
the perceived length of the facades.
The Siedlung Luisenhof II was built some 25 years
after Luisenhof I and has a totally different character. It still is however
best characterised as a Gartenhof. The outside is highly decorative with these
gable end breaking up the length of this long singular block. The shape of
these gable ends is inspired by baroque architecture. Decorative panels of
contrasting colour with symmetrical ornaments are also commonplace in baroque
architecture, and have been used to great effect here to embellish this corner.
Luisenhof II was built directly along the street. The
vast complex blends in well with the privately build housing across the street.
The complex was designed in the 1930's but doesn't reflect the "official
German style" of this period -the Stuttgarter Schule- but rather
Jugendstil and decorative modernism (Amsterdam School).
On the corners a set-back signals the entrance to the
large garden court within. Instead of a tower the entrance is a lower section
which is partly clad in slate shingles. The arched gateway gives access to the
inner world of the residents of Siedlung Luisenhoff II.
As was the case with Luisenhof I, the inside of
Luisenhof II is more sober in architecture, but definitely more decorative than
in Luisenhof I. All the entrances are located on the garden court, thus
emphasising the private character of this development for union members. The
colour of the north-facing facade is a bright lemony shade.
The facades on the south-facing side are a soft earth
tone, similar to the colour on the outside. The long facades are broken up
visually by inserting variable details around the balconies (on the left) with
arched and square loggias or by extending the facade above the entrance
culminating in a gable end (on the right).
The ideal was to provide light and clean air for the
residents, even in an urban setting. So the garden court, which is basically a
small park, is planted with large trees and shrubs with sections laid to lawn
and others fitted out practically as an area for drying laundry or as a
playground. Her a view of the garden-side of the free-standing block at the
entrance.
A view back through another arched gateway leaving the
central garden court. On the outside the length of the facade is broken up by
the use of a variable roofline, extending gable ends and hanging bays. On the
other side of the street the Westpark is located.
The design culminates at was is intended as the front
of the complex with a free-standing block set-back from the rest of this
mega-block that angles in at the corners with tower like corners. The central
block is very symmetrical. It doesn't give access to the garden court beyond
however, for that one has to snake via a winding path around it.
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