Question: What if you could step back in time to the early days of East Berlin’s urban planning? Today, we are exploring Fennpfuhl. It is a locality within the Lichtenberg borough. Fennpfuhl stands as a testament to East Germany’s ambitious housing projects. It is Berlin’s second most densely populated locality.
Fennpfuhl’s story began in April 1961. The area was then known as Lichtenberg. The land development aimed to create a new residential area. This spanned 175 hectares. The planners divided the project into three sections. The first Plattenbau was erected on Erich-Kuttner-Straße. Plattenbau means building with prefabricated concrete slabs. This experimental building now enjoys monument protection.
Construction officially commenced on December 2, 1972. The plan was to house nearly 50,000 people. Fennpfuhl was populated since the early 1970s. It was officially completed on May 12, 1986.
Fennpfuhl is situated on the eastern side of Berlin. It is located on the outer edge of the Hundekopf. Hundekopf translates to dog’s head. This is the colloquial name for central Berlin encircled by the Ringbahn. Fennpfuhl is bordered by several localities. These are Lichtenberg, Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Weißensee and Prenzlauer Berg.
The heart of Fennpfuhl is the Fennpfuhlpark. This urban park features numerous sculptures. The “Große Liegende” by Siegfried Krepp is especially notable. The park offers a green retreat amidst the high-rise buildings.
Fennpfuhl provides excellent transport links. The S-Bahn lines S4, S8, and S9 serve the locality. You can find them at Storkower Straße and Landsberger Allee stations. Tramway lines M5, M6, M8, M13, 16, and 21 also run through Fennpfuhl.
Fennpfuhl is more than just concrete and transport. It is a vibrant community. It showcases East Berlin’s architectural and social history. As we conclude our tour, remember Fennpfuhl. It represents a significant chapter in Berlin’s urban development. It also provides green spaces for its residents.