Rising majestically before you stands the Wintergartenhochhaus a Leipzig landmark. This 32-story giant was once the tallest residential building in East Germany. Its construction between 1970 and 1972 was a feat of engineering. It was the first high-rise residential building in East Germany built using the slip-on construction method. This innovative technique involved prefabricated outer walls. The result a striking structure that dominated the Leipzig skyline.
The Wintergartenhochhaus wasn’t just a housing project. It was a statement. A testament to East German architectural ambition. Its design by Horst Siegel and his team is remarkable. Notice the symmetrical floor plan. Each floor boasts twelve three and four-sided loggias. This creates an illusion of an octagonal building. It has a diameter of 32.4 meters.
But the Wintergartenhochhaus has a history before its modern form. The name itself and the street it sits on refer to a garden created in 1809. Christian August Breiter the owner filled this garden with greenhouses. These housed exotic plants. The area also held the Hotel Stadt Rom. This unfortunately suffered severe damage during World War II. It was demolished in 1969 to make way for the Wintergartenhochhaus. Several residential buildings on Schuetzenstrasse were also removed.
The building’s construction wasn’t without its challenges. The ground conditions proved difficult. A concrete floor trough had to be created. This involved subsoil drilling down to a remarkable depth of 50 meters. The construction also involved a substantial amount of materials: 2038 tons of steel 4784 tons of cement and 12000 cubic meters of concrete. The pure construction costs totaled 52.88 million East German Marks.
Initially there were plans for three similar high-rises. However only one was built. Cost was a major factor in the decision to build only one.
The Wintergartenhochhaus wasn’t finished with its construction. A complete renovation took place between 2004 and 2005. This cost 12.5 million euros. The two-story porch at the base was removed. A three-story commercial zone replaced it. Today the Wintergartenhochhaus houses apartments and offices. Over 95 percent of the apartments have a balcony or loggia. The rotating double M of the Leipzig Trade Fair remains atop the Wintergartenhochhaus. It underwent its own renovation in 2017 replacing fluorescent tubes with LEDs. This magnificent building stands as a symbol of Leipzig’s architectural and historical evolution. A true testament to the city’s resilience and vision. A true symbol of Leipzig.