“A home for everyone” echoes the spirit of the Siedlung Barbarossahöhe. The Siedlung Barbarossahöhe stands as a testament to innovative community planning. Let’s explore its origins and unique architectural features.
The Vaterländische Bauverein, a registered cooperative, commissioned this settlement. It wanted to create affordable housing. The task fell to Paul Poser, a Frohnau architect. He designed the Siedlung Barbarossahöhe between 1926 and 1929.
Poser designed houses for four or six families each. The houses were placed on a hilly terrain. The street-facing sides feature rustic fieldstone retaining walls. These fieldstones serve as a reminder of the Ice Age. Glaciers carried them to Frohnau. Many still lie in Frohnau gardens. Others were used in garden walls.
Each house within the Siedlung Barbarossahöhe includes an unfenced plot of land. This encourages a sense of openness and community. At the corner of Welfenallee and Olwenstraße, a pillar stands. It features a sculpture of a young architect. This pillar commemorates the construction period of 1926-27. It also acknowledges the Bauverein. A turret-like pavilion can be seen at the corner of Welfenallee and Forstweg. It resembles a tower on a city wall.
The cooperative acquired the over 30,000 square meter site in 1925. The price was 4.50 Reichsmark per square meter. The foundation stone was laid on July 3, 1926. The first houses were ready for occupancy the following year. From 1928 to 1929, another 11 similar houses were added to the west. The Siedlung Barbarossahöhe then comprised 166 apartments and 3 shops.
Paul Poser significantly shaped Frohnau’s architectural landscape. Besides the Siedlung Barbarossahöhe, he designed numerous settlements and country houses. His office was located at Bahnhofsplatz 1 in Frohnau. Today, that location is Ludolfingerplatz. Poser lived and worked in the house he built on Edelhofdamm 8 until his death.
Poser’s work often incorporated local materials. It featured decorative elements from rural architecture. His style is characterized by curved, almost baroque forms. Paul Poser died in Berlin on December 30, 1940. He was buried in the Frohnau cemetery. In November 2008, a square near the Siedlung Barbarossahöhe was named after him. This Paul-Poser-Platz honors his contributions to the district.
The Siedlung Barbarossahöhe represents an important chapter in Berlin’s architectural history. It embodies the ideals of community. It showcases innovative design. Its enduring appeal makes it a valuable landmark. It reminds us of Berlin’s commitment to providing quality housing.