Picture this a quaint Munich neighborhood nestled between bustling streets. This is the Feldmullersiedlung a unique residential area in Obergiesing. Built between 1830 and 1860 the Feldmullersiedlung is a historic gem. It’s a testament to Munich’s past a time when craftsmen and laborers built their own homes.
Therese Feldmuller a woman whose name the settlement bears gave life to this place. She owned the land selling small plots to hardworking people. These were not grand houses but simple one-story homes. Many had workshops in the back or small gardens in front. This created a stark contrast to the nearby farmsteads of Obergiesing’s older core. What makes Feldmullersiedlung so special is that it’s unlike other worker’s quarters of the time. Most similar areas were built much later after World War I. According to the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments the Feldmullersiedlung is unique in all of Germany.
The Feldmullersiedlung’s story continues. Around 1880 the Gründerzeit building boom brought changes. Some houses were upgraded with added stories. Numbers 5 and 6 on Kiesstrasse and numbers 5 6 and 8 on Obere Grasstrasse are examples of this. A local building the Kriegerheim a garden restaurant initially served as a meeting place for Obergiesing’s communists. Later the NSDAP local group used it.
The Feldmullersiedlung’s charm wasn’t always safeguarded. In 2017 the illegal demolition of a clockmaker’s house on Obere Grasstrasse 1 caused a media storm. This was a sad event highlighting the delicate balance between preservation and progress. The Munich Society for Urban Renewal (MGS) began work in 1983 to save the Feldmullersiedlung. The area was declared a redevelopment zone in 1984. With a city grant of 2.5 million euros the MGS successfully restored many of the houses.
Today the Feldmullersiedlung stands as a testament to its residents past and present. It shows us how a community shapes its environment creating a unique and historic neighborhood. Stroll through its streets imagine the lives lived within its walls. You’re walking through history in the heart of Munich. The Feldmullersiedlung is more than just houses. It’s a living story a reflection of Munich’s enduring spirit. It’s a neighborhood full of character stories and quiet moments waiting to be discovered.