Berlin's Housing Beauties
July 8, 2008
The Berlin Modernism housing projects "testify to innovative housing policies from 1910 to 1933," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said in awarding the designation on Monday, July 7.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee made the decision at its annual meeting in Quebec City. It brings the total number of UNESCO sites in Germany to 33.
The housing project, built during the Weimar Republic, met a need for working class housing.
"The property is an outstanding example of the building reform movement that contributed to improving housing and living conditions for people with low incomes through novel approaches...," the UN agency said.
Avant-garde for the masses
The project influenced the development of social housing around the world.
Berlin's housing was designed by avant-garde architects Bruno Taut, Martin Wagner, Walter Gropius and Hans Scharon. What they built were some of the world's first modern apartments with kitchens, bathrooms, balconies and ample windows.
Of the 850 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Berlin apartments are among ony 21 sites from the modern era.