Around 5800 people from over 30 nations call Rollbergsiedlung home. Many live in social housing. This neighbourhood in Neukölln Berlin has a rich and complex history.
Rollbergsiedlung wasn’t always the place you see today. It began as a traditional working-class area in the 1870s. Industry and businesses like the Kindl Brewery arrived. Simple tenements with cramped backyards sprung up. Workers flocked here. This layout remained until the 1970s.
The 1920s saw a flourishing worker’s movement. People joined protests and parties like the SPD and KPD. The infamous Bloody May Day in 1929 left a mark. Police brutally suppressed a worker’s gathering. Barricades went up. Over 19 people were shot dead in Neukölln. Over 60 were injured. The Rollbergviertel earned nicknames like “Bullenviertel” or “Barrikadenviertel”. This violence strengthened community bonds.
Under the Nazis life continued mostly underground. The area remained largely untouched during WWII. By the 1960s conditions were appalling. Seventy-eight percent of homes lacked indoor toilets. The area was deemed unhealthy and inhumane.
A complete redevelopment was decided upon. Nearly all the old buildings were torn down. The aim was modern housing with light air and sun for everyone. Of 5780 homes 5600 were demolished. Multi-story buildings were constructed.
The first foundations for the meandering buildings in the east were laid in 1967. A 1971 competition involved sociologists social psychologists architects and city planners. The winners Rainer Oefelein Bernhard Freund and Reinhard Schmock created the design.
Residents had to leave temporarily. Not all returned after the redevelopment. Many immigrants moved in. The area became known as a social hotspot. Journalist Güner Yasemin Balcı wrote about the youth problems here.
Around 2100 social housing units belong to Stadt und Land Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH. They undertook major construction and renovation work from 1987 to 1989. About 350 apartments are privately owned.
The Rollbergsiedlung is a large housing estate. Its distinctive features are five octagonal buildings. They were built between 1976 and 1982. These buildings mimic traditional Berlin block architecture. They have green inner courtyards. These courtyards were intended to offer protection from the noise of Tempelhof Airport. All apartments have a room facing the courtyard. There are few balconies.
Each building houses around 180 different units. These range from 40 to 120 square meters. Originally the hallways ran on two floors around the entire building. The corners are bevelled. This was inspired by Barcelona’s Eixample district. Some ground floor spaces were planned as laundromats but not built.
The area between buildings is largely car-free. Garages are located below the pedestrian level. This is similar to the High-Deck-Siedlung also built by Oefelein and Freund.
In the late 1990s concrete walls were replaced with light colourful railings. Green areas were added. The surrounding hallways were closed for security reasons.
Today Rollbergsiedlung thrives with a primary school a secondary school and numerous social and youth facilities. The neighbourhood management established in 2002 contributed to a noticeable drop in crime. Rollbergsiedlung stands as a testament to resilience transformation and the enduring spirit of its diverse community.