The Hansaviertel from the Gründerzeit-era was almost completely destroyed by bombing raids in 1943. As an inner-city area of ruins, it was intended to become a symbol of Berlin’s commitment to renewal in the post-war period. In a 1952 competition, 53 architects from 13 countries were invited—all of them representatives of the Western modernist movement known as “Neues Bauen” (New Building). Among them were Alvar Aalto, Werner Düttmann, Egon Eiermann, Walter Gropius, Arne Jacobsen, Oscar Niemeyer, Max Taut, and landscape architect Herta Hammerbacher.

In 1956, the redevelopment of the Hansaviertel began. Under the leadership of architect Otto Bartning, the International Building Exhibition Interbau 1957 showcased various structures designed to provide homes for citizens of a new democratic society.

Carsten Bauer from the Bürgerverein Hansaviertel e.V. invites you on a guided tour through the residential district. The tour begins with an introduction to the Hansaviertel from the Gründerzeit-era, followed by a walk past key buildings designed by renowned architects.