The residential block by Hans Scharoun is nicknamed “Panzerkreuzer” (armoured cruiser) because of its ship-like architectural elements

Ringsiedlung – Where light, air and sun become constructed reality

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Fiona Hirschmann

, 37 min reading time

The Ringsiedlung, also known as the Siemensstadt housing estate, was built between 1929 and 1931. It is one of Berlin’s six housing estates of the modernist era, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The housing project was designed by six architects who belonged to the association “Der Ring”, which was how the estate came to be called the “Ringsiedlung”. Photographer Fiona Hirschmann explored the Ringsiedlung district for us and captured some of its highlights.

View from the garden side of “Langer Jammer“

The city park at Jungfernheide was created at the start of the 20th century. The park’s location played a central role in the concept and design of the Ringsiedlung. This was where the philosophy of Neues Bauen became constructed reality, where light, air and sun were deemed crucial for the recreation and health of the residents.

Even the smallest flats have balconies (garden side of ‘Langer Jammer’)

This philosophy is evident in the buildings’ balconies, large windows, spacious front gardens and green inner courtyards.

Architecture with shipbuilding motifs

The balcony balustrades are designed like ship railings

When approaching the Ringsiedlung from the Siemensdamm underground station, one notices how the buildings by Hans Scharoun are grouped together to the left and right of Jungfernheideweg, forming a gateway to the housing estate. The elongated building to the left is commonly called the “Panzerkreuzer” (armoured cruiser) on account of its ship-like architectural elements. In many of his architectural projects, Hans Scharoun played with shipbuilding motifs – and this building is no exception. The curved balcony balustrades resemble a ship’s railing, the mounted rooftop recalls a ship’s bridge, and the rounded windows appear as portholes. After it was completed, Scharoun himself took up residence in a flat in this housing block. When approaching the Ringsiedlung from the Siemensdamm underground station, one notices how the buildings by Hans Scharoun are grouped together to the left and right of Jungfernheideweg, forming a gateway to the housing estate. The elongated building to the left is commonly called the “Panzerkreuzer” (armoured cruiser) on account of its ship-like architectural elements. In many of his architectural projects, Hans Scharoun played with shipbuilding motifs – and this building is no exception. The curved balcony balustrades resemble a ship’s railing, the mounted rooftop recalls a ship’s bridge, and the rounded windows appear as portholes. After it was completed, Scharoun himself took up residence in a flat in this housing block.

The tops of the stairwells have round skylights

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Communal roof terraces as an architectural concept

Colourfully accented stairwells inside the Gropius buildings

Continuing along Jungfernheideweg, one arrives at the Siemensbahn railway overpass. The bridge had already been built prior to construction of the Ringsiedlung, and its train transported factory workers to the Siemens factory from all across the city. Starting here, housing blocks designed by Walter Gropius are lined up to the left and right of Jungfernheideweg.

What’s especially striking about Gropius’s buildings is their vertically elongated, industrial-looking hall windows that stretch from the ground floor to the top storey. Another architectural element worth noting are the roof terraces which all residents jointly share. Such communal roof terraces were not unique to Gropius’s designs; many other representatives of Neues Bauen (New Building) incorporated them into their architectural plans as well.

The first of the Gropius buildings at the corner of Goebelstrasse and Jungfernheideweg

The soaring windows evoke industrial vibes and divide the long residential unit into sections

“Langer Jammer“: 324 meters with 25 house numbers

The south-facing side of “Langer Jammer“ with a view of the gardens

Another residential building located in the Ringsiedlung is known more commonly by the name “Langer Jammer“, which roughly means “long lament“. This one residential unit by Otto Bartning is home to 25 house numbers extending all the way down Goebelstrasse. Facing north toward the street, the building appears remote and monotone with a plain-looking facade, behind which one recognises utility rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. On the south side, however, the flats are equipped with balconies overlooking parklike gardens.

The north-facing facade of ‘Langer Jammer’ bears a rigidly organised design

Artist studios replaced by communal drying rooms

The loosely arranged facades of Häring’s buildings still reflect the promise of “light, air and sun”

Across from “Langer Jammer“, positioned at a right angle to the street, are nine house units designed by the architect Hugo Häring. What immediately catches the eye are the large, semicircular, honey-coloured brick balconies on the front. The rear east-facing sides, however, feature rather austere facades interrupted by mostly kitchen and bathroom windows. Häring’s original plans included penthouse artist studios, but during construction these were scuttled in favour of attic space where residents could dry their laundry.

Nine housing units by Hugo Häring are arranged perpendicular to Goebelstraße

The rear sides of Häring’s buildings are striking for their austere, no-nonsense appearance

Flats with direct access to the surrounding gardens

The west-facing side of Henning’s housing unit is bright and open

The housing units situated directly opposite Jungfernheide Park were designed by Paul Rudolf Henning. Here, too, the facade features honey-colored brick alternating with plastered wall surfaces. A visual highlight is the entrance doors in varying colors, which break up the order and provide orientation for the residents.

The east-facing facade of Rudolf Henning’s buildings appear rather plain

Many of the ground-floor flats in Henning’s buildings have direct access to the surrounding gardens

Coloured doors brighten the otherwise rigidly structured facades

Farbige Türen lockern die geordneten Fassaden auf

In some of these buildings, the ground-floor flats have direct access to the surrounding gardens.

Retail space as part of the planning concept

Balconies are the central structural element in all the facades by Fred Forbát

The housing unit designed by Fred Forbát, located at Goebelplatz, marks the end of the old Ringsiedlung. Forbát included a charming detail in his architectural plans: a red-brick commercial annex with a glass facade. Today, the space is used as an info station highlighting the Ringsiedlung’s cultural heritage. The info station is also a meeting place for architectural tours and a venue for temporary exhibitions and events.

Today the shop annex on Fred Forbát’s housing unit serves as an info station, highlighting the World Heritage Site ‘Ringsiedlung’

Bricks were also widely used in Forbát’s buildings

Expansion of the housing estate in the 1950s

References to shipbuilding are also evident in Scharoun’s balcony-access building

After World War II, the Ringsiedlung underwent significant expansion. A number of new housing units were built to the east of Goebelplatz. Once again, the architect Hans Scharoun was significantly involved in the expansion efforts. He was the one who designed the impressive final section of the ‘Langer Jammer’ near Goebelplatz in 1956. Here, too, the ship-like architectural elements clearly bear his signature style.

Museum flat with a panoramic view

Hans Scharoun designed artist lofts on the top floors of the buildings at Heilmannring

The high-rise at Goebelplatz was also designed by Hans Scharoun as part of the expansion project. Studio flats with large north-facing windows were built on the top storey of some of his buildings. The architect himself moved into one such studio flat at Heilmannring 66 as soon as it was completed and lived there until his death in 1972.

Hans Scharoun also incorporated design elements reminiscent of shipbuilding in this high-rise

Hans Scharoun designed the high-rise at Goebelplatz in the 1960s as part of the estate’s expansion project

Today, the “Scharoun Studio” is a museum flat which visitors can view on a guided tour.

Today Hans Scharoun’s former studio is a museum flat

Auf den Häusern am Heilmannring plante Hans Scharoun Künstlerateliers in der obersten Etage

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