Ten houses stood proudly. They were completed in 1909. This is Neckarhalde. A small part of Esslingen am Neckar. This neighborhood rests on a hill. It’s northwest of the city center.
Neckarhalde’s story begins in 1906. A group formed in Stuttgart. They wanted to create rural homes. Walter von Gizycki led the effort. He was a businessman economist and economist. He lived in Stuttgart then Esslingen. Esslingen manufacturer Dick had an idea. He suggested architect Heinrich Werner. Werner became the chairman. He negotiated with Esslingen.
In August 1908 the city council approved a land sale. It was on the Sulzgrieser Heide. The First Esslingen Homeowners Cooperative Neckarhalde was formed. By the end of 1909 ten houses were finished. Fifty-one people lived there. A year later sixteen houses housed seventy-nine. The colony grew through the 1920s.
It wasn’t just for the less fortunate as originally planned. Most residents were skilled workers. They were independent artisans employees and civil servants. Young followers of the reform movement also lived there. They included Karl Bittel and Friedrich Muck-Lamberty. They met visitors like Johannes R Becher and Gustav Landauer.
Today Neckarhalde remains a unique place. It’s a quiet residential area. It boasts a fascinating history. A history of community and social reform. It’s a testament to those who built it. Those who sought a different kind of home. A reminder that Neckarhalde’s legacy is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a story of people and their dreams. It’s a story written in the very fabric of this neighborhood.