Siedlung Bornheimer Hang: attractive modular housing

This social housing estate, built after plans by Ernst May as part of the New Frankfurt Initiative is located north of the city centre of Frankfurt on the edge of Bornheim. It is a good example of early modernism, especially New Objectivity. The housing estate Bornheimer Hang was named after a natural feature known as a Hang (literally slope) a river cliff of the Main that is situated directly southeast of the village of Bornheim.

This housing estate is dominated by large apartment blocks with flat roofs. The blocks are typically 4 storeys in height with central staircases. The roofline is staggered as the long block is follows the gentle slope of the terrain.

In this New Objectivity estate the placement apartment blocks follows the layout of the streets, thus creating street spaces in a similar way to Sitte-esque urban planning on artistic principles. The apartment blocks have been built around semi-public gardens. To alleviate the lack of balconies in these outer blocks, tenant were given the option of renting a garden plot on the other side of the road.

Inside the largest superblock Ernst May included low family housing in short terraces. These were built in a regular manner alongside a footpath. These houses have similar architecture and the same flat roofs as the surrounding apartment blocks.

The small double-storey family homes all have a small garden at the front and back edged with privet hedges. A metal rail starts at the front door (right) and runs across the front gardens. This was designed as a support for washing lines and climbers. The design is very restrained with little ornament.

A typical New Objectivity feature is the so-called Zeilenbau. This is sometimes dominant as in Dammerstock, here it is one of the solutions. In this type of row housing the houses are built front garden to back garden as repetitive rows, all with the same orientation -so chosen to make the most of natural sunlight.

The central church of the estate was built on the edge of it, at the end of the central square and near the park on the cliff slope that would separate this estate from the planned Rothenbuschsiedlung. This modern church was designed by Martin Webber. It was constructed in steel frame and consecrated in 1929. It is a skilful reinterpretation of the type. The only ornamentation are the four evangelists on the side (on de left) that stick out like gargoyles.   

The higher section of the church was designed to create a focal point at the end of the curved central space that was renamed Ernst-May-Platz in 1996. Apartment blocks line this central "square". Rows of trees soften the space and create subspaces.

The buildings were built in only a few types. One type has typical square windows that are placed at regular intervals creating a very ordered facade (left). Other apartment blocks show more variation in window treatment with a vertical band of windows above the entrance to bring light into the stairwell, larger rectangular windows on the lower elevations and smaller square windows on the top elevation (right).

A view along the central square from the tram stop. The trees on the right of the picture were planted in front of the shopping parade to create a subspace where markets and social activities could take place. The shops are still in situ and in use.

The blocks on the west side of the estate have been designed with pitched roofs instead of the standard New Frankfurt Initiative flat roofs. On the right a picture of the decorative buildings with pitched roof that were developed next to the site of the Siedlung Bornheimer Hang.

A typical streetscape with the blocks with pitched roofs. These building appear lower as the facade is only 3 storeys with a fourth storey below the roof. The bedrooms in the roof are provided with natural light by bands of small dormers. The vertical entrances are the same as those apartment blocks on the Ernst-May-Platz.

The blocks with pitched roofs all have a decorative plinth in brick. All buildings have rendered facades. The buildings in the northern section of this housing estate have balconies, where those in the southern section lack these.

The urban design is typical of New Objectivity with urban superblocks that have been opened up and thus differ from the closed Gartenhof that was built in Vienna at the same time. The space between the blocks is semi-public green space for the enjoyment of the residents. Although all buildings are the same height this creates an attractive vista down the streets.

Some of the central blocks are higher at 5 storeys. With the protruding balconies and vertical band of windows above the entrances these blocks have strong verticals on an otherwise horizontal facade. the balconies also create a rhythm along the street.

The apartment blocks are built directly on the street. The greenery was concentrated along one side of the street for maximum impact and better growing conditions. Sadly this is now all parking space. This 1920s estate was never designed with private car ownership in mind.

The northern blocks along the park on the slope of "the Hang" were seen as a feature to be viewed from the never realised neighbouring estate of Rothenbusch. These blocks have rooftop gardens and roof terraces, as well as balconies. This is indicative of the shift in building design as the development progressed. The prospective tenants had influence on the new housing being built. The higher sections don't correspond with the entrances, which all have a semicircular concrete awning. The repetitive use of the boxy balconies give this long facade a great sculptural quality.

A view down towards the Ernst-May-Platz from the church. The cars that are parked here and in all the residential streets were never taken into consideration in the original scheme. Otherwise the guiding principle of functional design of New Objectivity would have made provisions for car parking.