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The 1929 WuWA housing estate
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Resulting from the initiative between the Werkbund and local government, various model housing estates were built by the Wrocław Housing Estate Association SA 59 [joint-stock company] on the grounds adjacent to the following present-day streets:
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Wróblewskiego, Tramwajowa, Dembowskiego, Zielonego Dębu and Kopernika . 60
The experimental project demonstrating the types and sizes of the flats, and the techniques and construction materials was created in co-operation with the National Research Association for the Economy of Architecture and Housing – The RFG61. Initially it was conceived to invite architects from outside Wrocław: the representatives of the European avant-garde. This idea was discarded because it became obvious that only Silesian architects were able to create projects adjusted to the special climate of Wrocław, as this city has the most awkward climate as one could ever imagine 62. However, Heinrich Lauterbach points out a different reason in his letter to Vladimir Šlapeta: Since the idea came from the Wrocław
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39 Semi-detached house no. 26/27, designed by Theo Effenberger, view from the street (north-east), 1929. The Wrocław Museum of Architecture, 533-4
72 WuWA
40 Multi-family section no. 9 of the terraced house, designed by Theo Effenberger, view from the street (north-east), 1929. Published in "Die Form", 1929, p. 456
Formerly: Grüneicherweg, Uechtritzweg, Zimpeler Strasse, zur Grünen Eiche, Finkenweg. Werkbund Ausstellung. Wohnung und Werkraum..., p. 1. On behalf of the Association (Siedlungsgesellschaft Breslau A.G.) Johannes Piecha was the Construction Supervisor. The Construction Committee comprised eighteen members and was led by the City Construction Advisor, Fritz Behrendt. Wanda KONONOWICZ, Wrocław. Kierunki rozwoju urbanistycznego..., p. 49. Fritz Behrendt took this post (after Hugo Althof left for Gdańsk) shortly before the opening of the exhibition. He held this position from April 18th 1929 to January 31st 1934. Gustav LAMPMANN, Ausstellungssiedlung Breslau 1929, ”Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung”, vol. 49, 1929, p. 468. Trotzdem modern. Die wichtigsten Texte zur Architektur in Detschland 1919–1933. Ed. Kristiany Hartmann, Wiesbaden 1994, p. 46. cf. ”Bauwelt”, vol. 28, 1927, p. 685. RFG (Reichsforschungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaftlichkeit im Bau- und Wohnungswesen) was founded on December 14th 1926 (officially registered on January 21st 1928; after: Wanda KONONOWICZ, Ewolucja osiedla …, p. 454.) and dissolved on June 5th 1931. Werkbund – Versuchssiedlung in Breslau. Ausstellung ”Wohnung und Werkraum”, ”Die Baugilde”, vol. 11, no. 13, 1929, p. 998. The RFG wanted to take possession of the experimental housing estate in Wrocław to take advantage of its results in the construction industry. Adolf ROTHENBERG, Die Werkbund – Ausstellung 1929 in Breslau, ”Ostdeutsche Bau-Zeitung-Breslau”, vol. 27, no. 47, 1929, p. 341. Lubomir ŠLAPETA, Vladimir ŠLAPETA, op.cit., p. 1427. The following individuals were the most involved in the project: Prof. Adolf Rading; Prof. Hans Scharoun from the Academy of Art; its headmaster, Prof. Oskar Moll; Prof. Gustav Wolf – the headmaster of the School of Arts and Crafts; and Theo Effenberger. All of them were already experienced in designing housing estates, in the 20s they had large design commissions and had designed for other estates in Wrocław (Popowice, Sępolno Księże Małe, etc.). Apart from Theo Effenbergera, all of them worked under the direction of Max Berg in the City Construction Office.