Between terraced houses in bright colors, bold shapes, and curved lines, it becomes clear that what architect Bruno Taut envisioned and realized in the 1920s was more than housing construction — it was a vision of a better life. The Hufeisensiedlung in Britz is not only the largest but also the most renowned residential complex of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Berlin Modernist Housing Estates. Here, new urban models were tested — ones that offered an alternative to the narrow, airless courtyards of traditional tenement buildings. Terraced houses with private gardens were combined with multi-story apartment blocks, framed by generous green spaces. Following the principle of “light, air, sun for all”, Taut’s approach to modern urban planning was social and visionary. A hundred years later, the Hufeisensiedlung celebrates its anniversary with a symposium and three-day program featuring film screenings, exhibitions, book presentations, and architectural tours. From 17.–19.10.2025, the listed ensemble in Neukölln–Britz will open its doors to anyone wishing to experience architectural history up close.
The vernissage on 17.10.2025 revisits the history of GEHAG tenant magazines with “From Design Proposals to Nazi Propaganda — The Tenant Magazines of EINFA and GEHAG 1930–1939”, tracing the social shifts of the era. On 18.10.2025, experts guide visitors through the UNESCO World Heritage Site, past gardens, courtyards, and rows of colorful houses. Highlights include the “Utopia and Idyll” tour and visits to Tautes Heim, a reconstructed model house now serving as a museum and guest accommodation. Finally, on 19.10.2025, the Kulturstall Britz hosts discussions between architects, researchers, and residents, exploring how ideas from the 1920s’ reform movement remain relevant today. A century after its foundation, the Hufeisensiedlung stands not only as a symbol of modernist architecture, but also as proof that good design doesn’t age, but grows with time.
Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Ben Buschfeld
Hufeisensiedlung, Fritz-Reuter-Allee 44, 12359 Berlin–Britz; map
Symposium and accompanying program: 17.–19.10.2025
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