Unité d'Habitation of Berlin
The building is constructed in béton brut (rough-cast concrete) and is part of the initial architecture style we know today as brutalism.
The original name of the building was Unité d'Habitation, type Berlin and is a variation of Le Corbusier's concept of a Radiant City or Housing Unit; it is now known as Corbusierhaus.
Large number of the leading international architects of the modernist era were invited to design and build residential housing units in the Hansaviertel in West Berlin.
Big architectural stars of the time came to Berlin and created themes modern versions of social housing.
Walter Gropius, Oscar Niemeyer, Max Taut, Frei Otto, Alvar Aalto and many participated.
Bauhaus architects who had stayed in East Germany were leading these efforts, although the style of these buildings was Socialist realism or Neoclassicism and not modernist while the urbanism was modern.
Le Corbusier had just completed his Unité in Marseille in 1952 and it was arguably the most famous social housing project in the world and it was especially him who was invited to participate in the IBA.
"[6] Corbusier's idea was to "provide with silence and solitude before the sun, space and greenery, a dwelling which will be the perfect receptacle for the family", and to "set up, in God's good nature, under the sky and in the sun, a magisterial work of architecture, the product of rigour, grandeur, nobility, happiness and elegance".
Most of the big ideas of the Unité in Marseille and Nantes were part of the plan in Berlin; an accessible roof terrace, a kindergarten, stores and businesses on the 5th floor, and a social service areas throughout the building.
Corbusier fought very hard to keep the buildings elements in the planning but he eventually failed due to insufficient contracts.
All units extend over two floors and they are reached through a wide center hallway or here called Street, Strasse or french Intérieures.
The Berlin Architect Jürgen Sawade interned in the planning offices and on the construction site and later lived in the building.
The apartments were initially social housing units for rent and applications with proof of income had to be filed in order to get a contract.
Over the years the condominium board invested in renovations and projects such as building a parking lot and an entrance lobby.
The only known source of the individual color design for the Berlin Unité facade is a painted wood model which is today archived at the Berlinische Gallery.
