Row Construction

One of the key goals of new housing developments in the Weimar Republic was to break away from the dense, overcrowded Mietskasernen (tenement blocks) of the 19th century, which were notorious for their poor living conditions. Instead of being built around dark, cramped courtyards, apartment buildings were designed to provide lots of light, fresh air, and green surroundings.

A fundamental principle in achieving this was the linear block layout (Zeilenbauweise), where buildings were arranged in parallel rows with space in between. This ensured that every apartment received maximum sunlight exposure and allowed for cross-ventilation, meaning that each unit had windows on opposite sides for better airflow.

Linear rows of the Krochsiedlung (1929-1930) in LeipzigLeipzigWikimedia Commons

Rundling (1929-1930) in LeipzigLeipzigWikimedia Commons