Brace yourselves, for we’re about to delve into the history of Studentenwohnheim Wundtstraße 9. This building is more than just a place to sleep. It’s a landmark shaped by Dresden’s past and a testament to student life.
After the devastating air raids of 1945, Dresden faced a severe housing shortage. This was especially critical for the growing student population at the TH Dresden and later the Hochschule für Verkehrswesen. Quick solutions were needed and Studentenwohnheim Wundtstraße 9 became part of the answer.
The first student dorms appeared by 1955. They were located along Zelleschen Weg, Reichenbachstraße, and Güntzstraße. Then, the first prefabricated buildings were erected on St. Petersburger Straße by 1963. Today, they are landmarked. The construction of the Studentenwohnheime on Wundtstraße marked a high point in student housing construction.
The “cluster” formation of six towers at Wundtstraße became a model for urban development. It influenced construction in Zschertnitz, Prohlis, and Gorbitz. In the 1960s, a working group planned the Studentenwohnheime Wundtstraße as an extension. This group consisted of members from the TU Dresden and the district architect’s office.
Limited space west of the Zellescher Weg complex meant a tight construction. The goal was to create 2,500 new dormitory places. The staggered arrangement of the buildings ensured minimum sunlight for all apartments.
Studentenwohnheim Wundtstraße 9 is one of six 15-story buildings. These buildings house a total of 902 single rooms and 382 single apartments. Gunnar Hartmann, Horst Burggraf, and Peter Schramm designed these high-rises. They were built between 1969 and 1971 using large prefabricated concrete slabs.
In September 1972, Wundtstraße 1 and 11 were completed. Together they provided 1,000 beds. Both served as dorms for the Hochschule für Verkehrswesen.
Architects Baarß + Löschner renovated Studentenwohnheim Wundtstraße 9 in 2002. The stairwell tower received a colorfully backlit glass facade. It appears wedge-shaped towards the entrance. This design makes it seem to rest on the heavy steel-concrete roof. The building is light brown with red window frames.
Ulf Zimmermann renovated the building at Wundtstraße 11 in 2002. He created a gray facade with red accents. Other towers in the Wundtstraße complex received blue tones in 2004. Number 5 got a brown-red facade in 2008. Number 7 has a silver and red exterior wall from 2009.
All tenants moved out of Wundtstraße 1 in the summer of 2011. This allowed for the renovation of the last high-rise.
Landscape architect Günter Kretzschmar designed the green spaces around the Wundtstraße complex. These areas feature sculptures related to student life. Theo Balden’s 1964 sculpture “Zwiesprache” is one example. The artwork was purchased from the GDR art exhibition. Helmut Heinze and Wilhelm Landgraf created the “Studentensport” sculpture in 1973. It acts as a focal point between the residential towers.
While green space design was often neglected in other prefabricated building complexes, the Wundtstraße complex is considered an exemplary design.
Originally, the Wundtstraße dorms housed three student clubs: Wu1, Wu5, and Wu11. Other clubs were in the neighboring dorms on Zelleschen Weg. With the renovation of house number 5, Wu5 moved to number 1. In 2012, Wu5 finally found new rooms in the Tusculum student house.
Studentenwohnheim Wundtstraße 9 stands as a reminder of Dresden’s reconstruction. It also highlights the evolution of student life. Its architecture and art reflect the changing times.