How about stepping back in time to the 1950s? We are standing at the Dunckerviertel in Leipzig. This residential area emerged from 1953 to 1958. It was Leipzig’s first major housing complex after World War II.
The Dunckerviertel offered over 1000 apartments. There was a dozen shops, a post office, and a library. A hairdresser, a shoe repair shop, a restaurant, and a laundry were also present. A kindergarten with 120 places completed the offer.
Heinz Auspurg led the urban planning. G. Batteraux, Adam Buchner, and Martin Weber were also involved. The construction was part of the National Reconstruction Effort. The population volunteered to help.
Imagine the excitement when these homes got bathrooms and central heating. This was quite modern for the time. The goal was to complete all apartments by November 16, 1958. This date coincided with the East German elections.
The central street here is Dr.-Hermann-Duncker-Strasse. It got its name in 1960. The street was named after Hermann Duncker. He was a functionary of the Free German Trade Union Federation. Before 1960, it was simply Dunckerstrasse. That name honored Gustav Heinrich Duncker. He was a Leipzig benefactor who died in 1882.
Look around at the four-story buildings. These plastered brick buildings are grouped into blocks. Most have pitched or hipped roofs. Notice the five-story buildings at Morgensternstrasse and Beckerstrasse. There is also a six-story building perpendicular to Dr.-Hermann-Duncker-Strasse. Also note the kindergarten on Abrahamstrasse.
The Dunckerviertel was very popular in East German times. After reunification, things changed. Young people moved away. The gray buildings lost their appeal. But the city decided to renovate instead of demolish.
The apartments were modernized to suit different age groups. Elevators were installed. Some apartments became maisonettes. Balconies were added after consulting with preservation authorities. Some shops became accessible apartments. The Dunckerviertel is again a sought-after residential area.
Once almost a ghost town, the Dunckerviertel has been revived. It stands as a testament to community and reinvention. It is now a protected historic ensemble. This includes selected green spaces and parts of the sidewalks.