Grolland

Hidden within Bremen, the story of Grolland unfolds. Grolland’s tale begins in 1189. It started as “Groenland,” a colonial venture by Friedrich von Mackenstedt. He was a Welfian ministerialis and locator. He also established the Heiligenrode Monastery. He and the Archbishop of Bremen, as landlords, initiated the Holler colonization in Grolland. This involved draining the “wet triangle” between Brinkum, Neustadt, and “War sub Gronlande.” Dutch hydraulic engineering specialists Hermann and Heinrich were authorized by the Archbishop to cultivate the land in 1201. Grolland wasn’t always part of Bremen. Originally part of the County of Oldenburg, sometimes Delmenhorst, it sat near the Grollander Straße. This road was also known as the Schwarzer Weg (Black Path). In 1803, Grolland and its estate became part of Bremen through the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss. Grolland transformed from a small village into a suburban settlement between Storchennest and the Grolland estate after World War I. This marked Bremen’s first large-scale settlement project. Between 1935 and 1940, citizens, under the guidance of the non-profit housing and construction cooperative Grolland, created a “staged rurality”. This was a garden city project meant for families with many children, with about 750 housing units and 42 different house types. The conservative architect Friedrich Heuer, a student of Paul Schmitthenner and Paul Bonatz, led the design. This resulted in the red, steep hipped-roof houses. These houses reflected the rural, conservative architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1946, the Bremen rural communities of Huchting, including Grolland, were incorporated into Bremen as a district. This was a strategic move to prevent potential claims from a future state of Lower Saxony. Grolland’s “red” character is still visible. The red-brick single-family and terraced houses remain a characteristic feature, housing a predominantly middle-class population. The area around Grolland saw further development between 1950 and 1970, with construction by Brebau and private builders. This led to terraced houses and apartment buildings on An der Wurth, Am Vorfeld, and Deichhauser Weg. It also included a small retail and service area on Emslandstraße. Today, Grolland stands as a testament to its rich history, a blend of rural charm and suburban development.