Eisenhuettenstadt (East Germany, former GDR)? Certainly barren prefabricated buildings stretching to the horizon in front of a decommissioned ironworks. We cultivate our prejudices.
In the early 1950s, the GDR founded the first "socialist residential town" as Stalinstadt. The "labourers" of the Ironworks Combine East (EKO) were to live here. The architects designed the socialist "ideal city" entirely on the green table.
In the 1950s to 1960s, construction workers in eastern Brandenburg built the housing complexes I to IV. Eisenhuettenstadt was planned for 30,000 people; at its peak, 50,000 lived there.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the steelworks began to flounder and plunged the town into an economic crisis. Eisenhuettenstadt shrank to 23,000 inhabitants. Young people in particular turned their backs on the town.
The administration is trying to counteract this and is renovating the early GDR housing estates.
The theatre was built in the stately classicist style, but the GDR architects then abandoned it.
The mural "Work for Peace" was designed by the artist Walter Womacka for a façade in Lindenallee.
The Hotel Lunik, small moon, stands empty and is visibly decaying. An investor bought it and is waiting for better times.
In GDR times, the latest and almost unattainable car models were presented here. Today the pavilion is waiting for new ideas...
Follows part 2
Best regars, Uli
In the early 1950s, the GDR founded the first "socialist residential town" as Stalinstadt. The "labourers" of the Ironworks Combine East (EKO) were to live here. The architects designed the socialist "ideal city" entirely on the green table.
In the 1950s to 1960s, construction workers in eastern Brandenburg built the housing complexes I to IV. Eisenhuettenstadt was planned for 30,000 people; at its peak, 50,000 lived there.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the steelworks began to flounder and plunged the town into an economic crisis. Eisenhuettenstadt shrank to 23,000 inhabitants. Young people in particular turned their backs on the town.
The administration is trying to counteract this and is renovating the early GDR housing estates.
The theatre was built in the stately classicist style, but the GDR architects then abandoned it.
The mural "Work for Peace" was designed by the artist Walter Womacka for a façade in Lindenallee.
The Hotel Lunik, small moon, stands empty and is visibly decaying. An investor bought it and is waiting for better times.
In GDR times, the latest and almost unattainable car models were presented here. Today the pavilion is waiting for new ideas...
Follows part 2
Best regars, Uli