Einküchenhaus Wilhelmshöher Straße 17 & 18 & 19 & 20

From communal kitchens to resistance heroes, the Einküchenhaus Wilhelmshöher Straße 17 & 18 & 19 & 20 whispers tales of a bygone era. Right here, where we stand before these elegant buildings, a social experiment unfolded in the early 20th century. The Einküchenhaus, or “single-kitchen house,” aimed to liberate women from domestic drudgery. Imagine, no kitchen in your apartment! Meals were prepared in a central kitchen in the basement and delivered via dumbwaiters. This was the vision of Lily Braun, a social democrat and women’s rights advocate, who championed the idea of cooperative housekeeping. The Einküchenhaus Wilhelmshöher Straße, designed by architect Albert Gessner, was a grand example of this vision, boasting three buildings and numerous amenities. Built between 1909 and 1912, it offered residents a kindergarten, a rooftop terrace, even a darkroom for photography enthusiasts. This Einküchenhaus, along with others in Charlottenburg and Lichterfelde, represented a bold attempt at social reform. The complex housed 58 apartments, ranging from two to five rooms, each designed to be bright and airy. Gessner, known for his innovative approach to apartment building design, incorporated light wells to illuminate interior spaces. The idea, however radical, ultimately failed. The central kitchens in all three Berlin locations were eventually abandoned, and individual kitchens were installed in the apartments. Yet, the Einküchenhaus Wilhelmshöher Straße gained new significance during a darker time. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, it became home to members of the Schulze-Boysen/Harnack resistance group, who bravely fought against the Nazi regime. Greta and Adam Kuckhoff resided in number 18-19, while Erika Gräfin von Brockdorff lived in number 17. A plaque on number 18-19 commemorates Adam Kuckhoff, a testament to the courage and resilience that found refuge within these walls. Today, the Einküchenhaus Wilhelmshöher Straße stands as a reminder of both a failed social experiment and a hidden chapter of resistance. Its story, etched in brick and mortar, continues to resonate with the echoes of a time when kitchens were communal and courage was a quiet act of defiance.