Picture the Sewan-Viertel a sprawling residential area in Berlin’s Friedrichsfelde district. This wasn’t always its name. Initially built between 1961 and 1966 it was known as the Hans-Loch-Viertel. Named after a deceased East German finance minister. The Sewan-Viertel is more than just apartment blocks. It’s a testament to East Berlin’s ambitious post-war reconstruction.
Imagine 80 hectares transformed. Thousands of homes were created. Around 15000 people found homes here. The architecture is striking. Mostly four-story buildings. They’re made of large prefabricated concrete slabs. The QX type from the Q3A housing series. Three eleven-story high-rises dominate the center.
But there’s more. A ten-story building on Schwarzmeerstrasse stands out. It was completed in 1963. From 1965 eight to ten-story residential buildings were added. The Sewan-Viertel is unique. Most streets are named after bodies of water. Baikal Balaton Dolgensee Mellensee Moldau and Schwarzes Meer. These names evoke a sense of place a connection to the wider world.
The original name Hans-Loch-Viertel was changed in 1992. The main street’s name changed to Sewanstrasse. This referenced Lake Sevan in Armenia. It marked a shift in identity a new chapter for the neighborhood. That same year some streets were renamed again. This time they were given names of North American lakes. Erieseering and Huronseestraße illustrate this.
The Sewan-Viertel’s social heart once beat in a place called “Passage”. Built between 1964 and 1966. It was a low-rise structure. It contrasted with the high-rises. Shops restaurants a post office an apothecary and a hair salon all gathered here. It also included a primary school and a public library. Unfortunately the Passage was demolished around 2002-2003. It was replaced with two less inspiring buildings. A loss for the neighborhood’s history. The area was redesigned 2006-2008.
Today the Sewan-Viertel is well-connected. Bus lines 194 296 and 396 serve the area. The U-Bahn’s U5 line provides easy access to the city center. Friedrichsfelde and Tierpark stations are close by. The Tierpark station has tram connections too. South of the Sewan-Viertel is Rummelsburg station. This station is on the S-Bahn’s S3 line.
More than just concrete and steel the Sewan-Viertel holds memories. Famous residents include actress Agnes Kraus. Writer Herbert Ziergiebel lived there too. Even writer Heiner Müller called this area home. He lived there 1979-1993. Each of them contributed to the area’s rich tapestry. Explore the Sewan-Viertel and you’ll uncover its fascinating story. A neighborhood that embodies East Berlin’s past and its enduring spirit.