Critique of Six Berlin Modernist Neighborhoods
In August 2021, the Landesdenkmalamt Berlin published the book "Six Settlements of the Berlin Modern - Developments and Experiences in the UNESCO World Heritage Site." This hardcover book, priced at 29.95 EUR, is a comprehensive guide to six significant residential settlements in the Berlin metropolitan area.
The six settlements, built between 1913 and 1934, are the Garden City Falkenberg, the Schiller Park settlement, the Großsiedlung Britz, the Wohnstadt Carl Legien, the Weiße Stadt, and the Großsiedlung Siemensstadt. These settlements were designed and built in the style of classical modernism and the New Building, and they have had a profound impact on the architecture and urban planning of the 20th century in many other metropolises worldwide.
With 232 pages and over 300 illustrations, the book offers a detailed exploration of these settlements. It features the voices of actors who bring the World Heritage idea to life and share their experiences with the Settlements of the Berlin Modern.
The six settlements were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, and the book provides insights into their current status. Klaus Lederer, the current cultural senator of the Berlin state government, has dedicated an extensive foreword to the book, highlighting its importance.
Despite efforts by the Berlin Senate to include the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf, another residential estate designed by Bruno Taut in the Bauhaus style, constructed between 1926 and 1932, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, no relevant search results indicate that it is currently nominated.
The first edition of the book, published by Anton H. Konrad-Verlag, is now available. For those interested in urban development, this book is a must-read, offering a unique perspective on the history and significance of these influential settlements.
More book reviews can be found on the "BOOK" page. The book's ISBN is 978-3-87437-600-6.
