Does this collection of houses seem different? This is the Stadtrandsiedlung Am Stadtrand in Potsdam. It is also known simply as Siedlung am Stadtrand. The Stadtrandsiedlung is part of Waldstadt I. It borders the Schlaatz district. A tram line separates it from the Schlaatz. The Siedlung Am Nuthestrand was added later.
The Stadtrandsiedlung was built between 1932 and 1936. It was created as a settlement for unemployed people. The houses in Käuzchenweg, Am Fenn and Unter den Eichen belong to it. Reinhold Mohr planned and designed these homes. He was an architect from southern Germany. Here, he built the largest group of Berg- und Bauernarchitektur houses outside of Württemberg. Mohr is also known as an architect of the Klassische Moderne style.
The Stadtrandsiedlung was created after the global economic crisis. It had a social purpose. The construction provided work for local craftsmen. The gardens were meant to help residents grow their own food. Unemployed craftsmen built the houses. Then, the houses were assigned to them by drawing lots. This ensured high construction quality. No one knew which house they would get. The Siedlung Am Nuthestrand used the same successful method. Today, both settlements are listed as historic landmarks. They are commonly known as the Stadtrandsiedlung.
The Stadtrandsiedlung is bordered by the tram line to Stern, Neubaugebiet Drewitz and Kirchsteigfeld. This line was built in the 1980s and 1990s. It separates the Stadtrandsiedlung from the Schlaatz area. The Wetzlar railway line runs south of the settlement. This line separates it from the Rehbrücke industrial area. The settlement includes the streets Käuzchenweg, Am Fenn and Unter den Eichen. The Siedlung Am Nuthestrand is located northeast. It was built by the same architect a few years later.
The Stadtrandsiedlung’s construction aimed to be social. Planning took place during the global economic crisis. Building the houses created jobs for future owners. The gardens helped them be self-sufficient. Unemployed craftsmen built the houses. Then they were raffled off. This ensured high construction quality. No one knew which house they would get. The same idea was used for the Am Nuthestrand expansion. It was built by the Nuthe river until 1939. Both settlements are in the Waldstadt I residential area. They are protected as historic monuments.
After reunification, many houses were renovated and modernized. Strict landmark regulations were followed. Some new homes were also built. The Stadtrandsiedlung also features many Kleingärten. These are small garden plots. However, in May 2024, the Brandenburg monument authority removed the landmark status from all 59 houses in the Siedlung Am Stadtrand. This was due to too many structural changes. This decision has sparked controversy.
The Stadtrandsiedlung Am Stadtrand stands as a testament to a unique architectural and social experiment. It reflects a time of economic hardship. It showcases a community striving for self-sufficiency.