Ever heard of a Gelber Block? It is not a child’s toy. It is the Luisenhof.
The Luisenhof settlement stands before us. It whispers tales of Essen’s industrial past. It reveals how workers lived more than a century ago.
The Friedrich Krupp AG built the Luisenhof. It provided homes for its workers. The Luisenhof I was built first. This happened between 1910 and 1912. Luisenhof II followed. It was constructed from 1916 to 1917.
In 1910, the Krupp company gifted land to Essen. There was a condition. The city had to build a park. This park is the Westpark today. The Luisenhof I emerged near this park. It comprised 151 apartments. Locals nicknamed it Gelber Block. This was due to its yellow paint.
The settlement got its official name later. The Nationale Arbeiterverein Werk Krupp chose it. They decided on the name on the 100th death anniversary of Queen Luise of Prussia. They also honored her with a bronze statue. You can find it on the Luisenhof’s main entrance side. The Luisenhof I remains largely original today.
Luisenhof II was built close by. It mirrored the first settlement’s design. This second phase added 140 apartments. Luisenhof II suffered damage during World War II. This impacted its urban design.
Adolf Feldmann was the architect. He designed the Luisenhof I with a special feature. The inner courtyard was given importance. It had greenery and a fountain. This was unusual for the time. House entrances faced this courtyard. Staircases displayed half-timbered decorations. Original ornamental grilles adorned the loggias. These details softened the courtyard facade.
The courtyard is accessible through gate entrances. These are located on Osnabrücker and Hildesheimer Straße. The street facades are plain. The main side on Liebigstraße is more striking. It features tower-like residential buildings.
The Luisenhof I is a Gartenhof. This housing style emerged in Germany around 1900. It aimed to improve living conditions in dense urban areas. The Luisenhof shares similarities with Viennese social housing.
Luisenhof II also embodies the Gartenhof concept. It incorporates Dutch influences. Its apartments are larger and better equipped than those in Luisenhof I.
The Luisenhof suffered damage in the Second World War. Both complexes have been restored. They stand as examples of inner-city social housing. They are part of Essen’s Route der Industriekultur.
The Luisenhof is located on the edge of Frohnhausen. Luisenhof I consists of three apartment blocks. Each wraps around a communal garden. Public gardens border the entire complex. Luisenhof II is a single complex. A separate block marks its entrance. It sits directly on the street. It is next to the Westpark. The Frohnhauserplatz completes the area. It was finished in 1912. It serves as the center of this Essen suburb. Locals also call it the Markt. This distinguishes it from the Altendorfplatz.
As you leave the Luisenhof, consider its story. It is a story of industry and community. It is a tribute to Queen Luise. It is a reminder of Essen’s past.