Aspen

Gazing up at the dark facades of Aspen, it’s easy to see why it’s called the “black settlement”. Aspen in Stuttgart-Botnang is more than just a collection of buildings. It’s a story etched in architecture, a testament to a vision of modern living. Aspen emerged in the 1960s, a time of transformation and growth. Between 1963 and 1966, this unique housing development took shape. It was designed as an exclusive community, primarily for government employees. This was a deliberate contrast to the large housing projects like Fasanenhof and Freiberg that were also being built in Stuttgart around the same time. Aspen was meant to be something special, a haven nestled in a clearing in the forest at the southern edge of Botnang. The architects, Kammerer + Belz, along with Hans Werner Schliebitz, crafted a variety of housing types to fit the sloping terrain. A seven-story high-rise building, a striking triangular structure, marks the entrance to Aspen. This is flanked by rows of garages, a nod to the “car-friendly city” ideal of the time. Further in, three-story apartment buildings and terraced houses cascade down the hillside, following the natural contours of the land. These are clustered in groups of three or six, creating intimate pockets within the larger community. The black asbestos cement shingles that clad the buildings give Aspen its distinctive look. This was an early example of Kammerer + Belz’s signature use of this material, which would later become a hallmark of their work. The landscape architect Hans Luz envisioned Aspen not just as a collection of houses but as a “large garden landscape”. The green spaces flow seamlessly between the buildings, blurring the lines between private gardens and the surrounding forest. The Aspen settlement won the Paul-Bonatz Prize in 1967 for its exemplary and innovative design. Yet, its unique aesthetic wasn’t universally appreciated. In 2011, Aspen was designated a cultural monument. This decision sparked controversy among some homeowners who challenged the listing. Their legal battle ultimately failed. The court upheld the monument status, recognizing Aspen’s significance as a unique example of post-war modernism.