Around 1900 a vision took shape. Deep in southwestern Berlin a new residential area would arise. It would be a masterpiece of the Berlin Modern movement. This is the story of Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf also known as Onkel Toms Hütte.
Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf is more than just houses. It’s a testament to innovative urban planning. Bruno Taut a renowned architect of the Berlin Modern movement spearheaded this project. He envisioned a community blending nature and modern living. Between 1926 and 1932 the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf took form. The Gemeinnützige Heimstätten Spar und Bau-Aktiengesellschaft GEHAG commissioned the project. Taut wasn’t alone. Hugo Häring and Otto Rudolf Salvisberg two other prominent architects contributed their expertise.
The scale is impressive. Over 1900 dwellings were constructed. This included roughly 1100 apartment buildings and 800 single-family homes. A vast undertaking offering housing for about 15000 people. This was a significant step in tackling Berlin’s housing shortage. The single-family homes were exceptionally spacious by the standards of the time. Many boasted 85 or even 104 square meters. Each included a private garden. The quality of life was high even then. It remains high today.
Taut’s signature touch is everywhere. His two-story apartment blocks in the north of the settlement are striking. He used bold color on the facades. This created a lively streetscape. He first experimented with this in Falkenberg. The effect is both cost-effective and joyful. Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf became his most colorful project since 1913. Intense greens yellows and blues dominate. Locals nicknamed it the Papageiensiedlung the Parrot Settlement. This wasn’t always meant as a compliment.
Häring and Salvisberg designed the terraced houses. Though their usual styles differed they harmonized their designs with Taut’s vision. They still added their unique stamp. Salvisberg used a layer of bricks to define the boundary between houses. Häring added colorful accents to his light green houses using red roof overhangs.
Even as the project progressed Taut designed a long row of houses along Argentinische Allee in 1930. This 400-meter-long block is known as the Peitschenknall the whiplash due to its dramatic curve. The design reflects parallel projects in Siemensstadt and the Weiße Stadt.
The architects carefully incorporated existing pine trees into the design. The houses open up views of the trees and gardens. The colorful facades contrast beautifully with the green surroundings. Landscaping architects Leberecht Migge and Martha Willings-Göhres designed the outdoor spaces.
The Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf wasn’t just a rural idyll. In 1929 the Onkel Toms Hütte U-Bahn station opened. This connected the settlement to central Berlin. Otto Rudolf Salvisberg expanded the station’s original design adding distinctive shop arcades.
The Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf didn’t please everyone. Traditionalists disliked its bright colors and flat roofs. Social tensions arose as well-to-do residents resisted the influx of less affluent people. The GAGFAH a housing association with ties to the conservative Centre Party launched a contrasting project nearby. This was the Am Fischtal experimental settlement. Its traditional gabled roofs stood in stark contrast to Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf. This clash became known as the Zehlendorf Roof War.
The Second World War left the settlement relatively unscathed. But later decades saw alterations that changed its architectural character. In the 1980s restoration efforts began. Today Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf stands as a protected monument a vibrant reminder of Berlin’s rich architectural history. It’s a place of beauty a place of history and most importantly a place to call home.