Front Doors
The most common materials for front doors were wood, glass, and metal (typically steel), chosen for their availability and affordability. PVC had not yet been invented, and aluminum was too expensive.
Wood was by far the dominant material, especially for residential buildings, due to Germany’s strong forestry resources, which made it both cheap and practical. While front doors had traditionally been made of wood, they became a lot less ornate in the 1920s. Flat surfaces replaced heavy ornamentation, and horizontal and vertical slats added structure and reinforcement.
Wooden front door from around 1930 in Leipzig
Wooden door at Alte Heide (Munich)
To protect against the elements, the wood was often stained, keeping its natural appearance intact. However, some doors, especially in more experimental housing projects, featured bright colors, similar to the facades.
Colorful front doors of Hufeisensiedlung (Berlin)Wikimedia Commons
Glass panes were common feature, reinforcing the principle of »light and sun«. Large glass panes were still difficult to produce and therefore expensive, so most doors used smaller panes divided by wooden frames.
Stockwerksiedlung (Munich)
Stockwerksiedlung (Munich)
Occasionally, metal (typically steel), was used for decoration and reinforcement. Metal bars could provide a subtle ornamental touch, especially in expressionist designs, while also adding security.
Wood separating glass panes and decorative metal bars
Blue painted wood and metal bar ornamentation
My Take
Even under the guiding principle of form follows function, form was never entirely forgotten. Rather than being purely flat and featureless, these doors incorporate subtle structural elements that enhance both durability and aesthetics. They are simple, but not boring.
The material choices weren’t just about aesthetics but also practical. Wood was widely used because it was cheap and easy to work with. But necessity led to elegance, and that’s why I find early modernism more compelling than later developments. While they adhered to the same principles, the increasing availability of materials like aluminum led to doors that felt more industrial. The warmth and sense of craftsmanship of these earlier designs was gradually lost.