How about stepping back in time to an era of housing innovation? Here we are at the Rundling, a unique circular housing estate in Leipzig. It is also known as Nibelungensiedlung. The Rundling stands as a testament to a time of great housing shortage. Leipzig architect Hubert Ritter designed this complex in 1929 and 1930. Ritter was also the city planning officer.
Picture this. Twenty-four houses arranged in three concentric rings. The outer ring stretches 300 meters in diameter. Ritter cleverly used the hilltop location to his advantage. The inner ring boasts four floors, while the outer rings have three. Two main axes cut through the area. These provide access and emphasize the western entrance with neighborhood shops.
The Rundling embodies the New Objectivity style. Architectural historian Winfried Nerdinger called it a symbol of the ideals of the Neues Bauen style of the Weimar Republic. Even the flat roofs sparked controversy. Mayor Karl Rothe criticized them. Ritter proved they were cheaper than steep roofs to win approval.
Inside, 624 apartments provided homes. Eleven different floor plans ensured optimal lighting. No living rooms faced north. City garden director Nikolaus Molzen planned Siegfriedplatz. It was in the center of the complex. A paddling pool once delighted children here. Originally, plans included a church or special building.
World War II inflicted heavy damage on the Rundling. The paddling pool became a garden. Later, it was abandoned. Reconstruction occurred in 1965 and 1966. Comprehensive renovation took place from 1993 to 1997. Five blocks destroyed in the war were rebuilt. The Leipziger Wohnungs- und Baugesellschaft received the Deutscher Bauherrenpreis for this redevelopment.
Hubert Ritter sought to maximize light and green spaces. The flat-roofed houses created open courtyard areas. In the 1980s, the Rundling gained recognition as a historic monument. The housing company LWB renovated the old buildings. They rebuilt the five destroyed houses after 1990.
The new houses stand out. They are painted a striking dark yellow. Underground car parks mark their modern design. The windows differ from the old ones. The new houses feature simpler displays for house numbers.
Today, the complex contains 1,073 apartments. These range from two-bedroom to four-bedroom layouts. The inner ring’s four-story buildings dominate the landscape. Balconies face the middle ring. The middle and outer rings prioritize east, south, and west exposure for balconies. This creates a lively facade. The central square now features an overgrown flower bed.
Additional buildings complement the Rundling. Two-story structures at Dürrstrasse 69, 71, and 73 and Brunhildstrasse 1, 3, and 5 house shops and apartments. The building at Brunhildstrasse 2 and 4 has a round shop. These buildings serve as entrances to the settlement. The Rundling is an urban extension of Alt-Lössnig.
The circular plan promotes community. The names are inspired by Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung. The Rundling remains a testament to progressive thinking. It challenges traditional urban layouts.