Imagine workers streaming into this area. It is the Wohnsiedlung der Telefunken-Werke. This settlement was built for the employees of the Telefunken factory.
Between 1940 and 1942, this housing complex arose. It sits near the Telefunken factory on Goerzallee. The Heimat AG was initially in charge. After the war, Gehag took over. They repaired war damage. Neue Heimat became the owner in 1979.
The Wohnsiedlung der Telefunken-Werke is special. It was built after a general construction ban in 1940. Telefunken’s importance to the war economy likely explains this exception. Workers needed housing close to their jobs during the war.
Apartments here are mainly in perimeter block developments. These line five newly created streets. Four blocks face north-south, set back from the street. Four streets got names from captured Alsatian castles. These are Breitenstein-, Hockstein-, Ramstein- and Windsteiner Weg.
Blocks vary in length. Some curve around street corners. Two U-shaped blocks face each other on Windsteiner Weg. They enclose a rectangular green space. Mixed in are two-story buildings with shops.
The layout of the Wohnsiedlung der Telefunken-Werke is generous. Open spaces between buildings create green areas. Buildings vary in height. The U-shaped blocks have four stories. Other buildings have three. Shop buildings have two. This and varying street positions change the streetscape.
Open construction was also for air raid protection. Gaps would allow poisonous gas to dissipate during an attack. Facades are simple. Colors differentiate stairwells. The roof design reflects modern functionalism. The roof ends flush with the eaves.
Windows exceed standard sizes. This was possible by avoiding steel beams. The U-shaped blocks even feature balcony bays. These have separate roofs. A small clock tower sits above the archway. These elements are unusual. Strict building codes of the time generally forbade them.
Some buildings suffered heavy damage during air raids. They were rebuilt from the mid-1950s. The rebuilt structures matched the existing ones. Later, the area expanded to Nieritzweg and Sachtlebenstrasse. More apartment blocks filled the space. Shops and a post office appeared on Ladiusstrasse.
The Wohnsiedlung der Telefunken-Werke stands as a testament to wartime needs. It shows how urban planning adapted under pressure. It also illustrates architectural styles of the period. The settlement offers a glimpse into Berlin’s complex history. It balances industry, housing and wartime concerns.