CugelVance

Germany - 22-Oct-24 -

I visited the waldsiedlung Zehlendorf (also known as "uncle tom's hut settlement)  in Berlin's affluent south west area on july the 12th as well as on july the 19th,2024.

The waldsiedlung Zehlendorf is located on both sides of the argentinische allee street in Berlin's Zehlendorf destrict ,on both sides of the metro tracks that practically divide the "forest settlement".

The waldsiedlung was built between 1926 and 1931. In total,the waldsiedlung includes over 1900 apartments,of which 1100 are multi-storey apartments and 800 are single-family homes.

Bruno Traut, who had previously designed the Hufeisensiedlung (WHS modernism housing estates), did the overall planning, but also Hugo Haering, who previously played a key role in the Siemensstadt large settlement=Grossiedlung Siemensstadt (WHS modernism housing estates), and Otto Salvisberg, who had worked on the Weisse City=Weisse Stadt designs  ( whs modernism housing estates ) were involved on this project.

The metro station "Uncle Tom's hut"(line U3) is also part of the waldsiedlung zehlendorf and should not be missed. On july the 12th I had first visited the "kunsthaus dahlem"(typcial upper class museum,quite boring) and the nearby "allied museum"(quite interesting,the history of the allied forces in Berlin,free entrance) in Berlin's Zehlendorf destrict before I finally arrived by metro at the abovementioned metro station. At that time the sky was already dark as an approaching storm announced its arrival. I decided to explore the rietmeisterstrasse and the side streets leading off. After around 20 minutes the storm hit that area and I had to give up my venture. I liked what I saw and was not very happy with my short visit there.

Therefore I revisited that area on july,the 19th.This time luck was with me as it was a sunny and pleasant day.

I revisited the rietmeister area and then went back to the metro station where I had a coffee inside the very station. There is a kind of shopping alley on both sides of the metro tracks within the station. To my great astonishment I found well-made information boards in both german and english, which explain the history of all Berlin modernism housing estates using many pictures and informative texts. Excellently done. It took me about 20 minutes to read most of it. Exemplary! I haven't found anything like this in any of the other Berlin modernism housing estates. I then went along the argentische allee to visit the so called "peitschenknall"= whip crack, a long row of houses along that street. After that I explored the area around the streets "hegewinkel,hochsitzweg,sprungschanzen,eschershauser and their side streets.Hands down this colorful settlement is by far the most interesting, varied and enjoyable of all modernism settlements in Berlin. In my opinion, none of the UNESCO settlements already registered can hold a candle to it.
I really enjoyed my maybe 3 hours total there. It would perfectly complete the already 6 housing estates of the whs Berlin modernism housing estates
My thumb goes up.

By the way, I asked 10-15 local residents whether they like to live there or not. All answers were positive.