Plattenbau Berlin: A Photographic Survey of Postwar Residential Architecture

Plattenbauten, constructed from prefabricated concrete panels, were a quick and inexpensive solution to Berlin's housing shortage after World War II. Jesse Simons' book explores the aesthetic and social value of these buildings, focusing on urban developments between the 1950s and 1990s. It includes over 200 images revealing a diversity of color and detail, illustrating how both East and West Berlin employed similar approaches to postwar urbanism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2022
Publisher: Prestel

Plattenbauten, constructed from prefabricated concrete panels, emerged as a swift and cost-effective solution to the acute housing shortage plaguing Berlin following World War II. While initially met with criticism for their perceived sterility and impersonal scale, these buildings eventually became an integral part of the city's landscape. Drawing from his extensive research into Berlin's urban terrain, Jesse Simons' texts and photographs provide a compelling case for the aesthetic and social significance of buildings once deemed "eyesores." Focusing on urban developments constructed between the 1950s and the early 1990s, the book adopts a geographical structure, giving equal attention to the former East and West. It features over 200 images adorned with warm light and vibrant hues, unveiling a wealth of color and detail that may often go unnoticed by the casual observer. Moreover, the book illustrates how, despite profound political differences, both East and West Berlin employed remarkably similar approaches in shaping new urban spaces. For enthusiasts of Brutalism and Modernism, Plattenbau Berlin serves as an engaging reevaluation of postwar urbanism and a distinctive entry point into exploring Berlin's rich history and architectural heritage.

Weight: 1090g
Dimension: 229 x 197 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791388359