Company town

Workers' housing estates were built in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century on the initiative of non-profit companies or the industry itself to create affordable housing for the lower strata of the population. They originated in connection with the housing shortage, which was caused by the migration of the rural population mainly in the industrial centers. For -profit companies refer mostly to construction companies in the legal form of the corporation to cooperatives or housing associations. They traded mostly for altruistic reasons and wanted to improve the living conditions for broad sections of the population. Manufacturers negotiated rather selfish drive. They wanted to work with the resources of housing, especially in the rapidly expanding industries to reduce the fluctuation of recruited from the rural hinterland workers and bind a permanent staff of skilled workers and masters at their factories. In addition, they received by working as an apartment rental, purchase or premiums object a not inconsiderable influence on the habits of their workers. Founded in for flavor development of the working class in reading, music, also, and choral societies who created the settlements related health insurance, savings and fire services security, the residents of these neighborhoods brought but also largely in physical and mental dependence.

Architects and construction began in the mid- 19th century to deal with the investment of workers' settlements. Goal of their deliberations was not only the efficient production of affordable housing, durability and safety, but also the size of the houses, functional floor plan, consideration of light, air and vegetation as a basis for healthy living.

Housing estates

Workers' housing estates were built as housing estates by companies in the mining industry for their workers and employees. But in other industries, the idea of ​​binding the workers arrived at their workplaces through workplace related housing opportunities to fruition (eg cement industry, wood processing industry ). The construction of such company housing was supported by special government assistance programs.

The mining industry has experienced particularly in the Ruhr end of the 19th century, rapid growth with corresponding increases in migration from the neighboring European countries and from economically weak regions of Germany, which led to shortages in the housing market. For the enterprises in the development zone of the Ruhr area, therefore the recruitment and becoming settled labor was a vital problem that you tried to be solved by the construction of housing estates. These typical colliery colonies were mostly built in the vicinity of establishments planning prestigious architects were often won.

Past workers' settlements

• In Württemberg cake ( Landkreis Göppingen ) is a working class neighborhood of the nation's largest cotton spinning and weaving was built for their workers from 1857 to 1869. It was for that time with exemplary and progressive culture, leisure, - equipped supply and healthcare facilities. Part of the settlement was Süddeutsche after the bankruptcy of the company renovated Cotton Industrie AG cake ( ESBI ) in 1987 for around ten million euros.
• In Bayreuth, built in 1861, the mechanical cotton - spinning the first Bavarian council estate called The Castle. With each 52 m² of living space on two floors and a small garden houses for that time were generously designed. Total to 1909 caused more than 180 apartments for spinning workers and their families. The bombing of the remaining quarter was largely spared until 1980 completely demolished.
• In Augsburg In 1876, the worsted district, for the workers of the Augsburg worsted spinning. 1892, the provisions Bach quarters when workers' settlement of the mechanical cotton spinning and weaving Augsburg ( SWA). Both districts are located in Augsburg textile district and are partially (worsted district ) or almost completely ( provisions Bach quarters ) were obtained.
• In Hanover, was born in 1890, the settlement Körting village for the workers of the company Körting. They bordered on at the factory site in Badenstedt district. The settlement included 50 semi-detached houses with stables and large gardens (approx. 800 m² each ). Also, a school, shops and an inn were present.
• In Emden emerged in the first three decades of the 20th century workers' housing for the employees of the Emden harbor and shipyards. Among these were the districts of Port Arthur / Transvaal and Friesland. Especially in Friesland, but also in Port Arthur / Transvaal, entire streets have been preserved and can be an insight into the former living conditions guess. The houses in Friesland was often provided with (useful) gardens in backyards, some of which allowed the residents the food self-sufficiency by growing fruit and vegetables as well as animal husbandry.
• In Limburgerhof BASF dating back to 1900 and 1914 two workers colonies that formed the core cell for subsequent independent municipality.
• In Dortmund 1871 was created by the Union, the Union smelters suburb, one of the first housing estates in the English style ( cf. settlement Eisenheim ). It was demolished in 1961.

Listed workers' settlements

• Provisions Bach neighborhood in Augsburg was from 1892 to 1909 as a workers' settlement of the mechanical cotton spinning and weaving Augsburg and is since 1986 under preservation orders.
• Müsersiedlung, Dortmund - Derne
• Settlement seam thickness Bank, Gelsenkirchen - Ückendorf
• Old Colony Eving in Dortmund, built in 1898-1899 by the colliery Stein and Hardenberg.
• Free plaice in Berlin- Waidmannslust, built in 1895 by Gustav Lilienthal.
• Settlement Eisenheim in Oberhausen, built by the Gutehoffnungshütte since 1846.
• Altenhof I and II in food - Ruettenscheid, built from 1893 to 1914 as a workers' settlement of the Krupp
• Döhrener Jammer in Hanover- Doehren
• In hessian Lichtenau in the Werra- Meißner-Kreis in North Hesse was born in 1907 a settlement for workers of the heavy weaving Cheerful and Wolff. All apartments were equipped with running water and heating furnace and had a private entrance, a stable and garden land. This was for the recruited from rural areas of Eastern Europe workers enormously important for integration into an urban housing situation. By the end of the 1930s, around 120 flats have been built in about 30 buildings. Today the buildings are provided as total plant conservation. As of 1995, a comprehensive ecological restoration was begun, it was a cogeneration unit built with a district heating network, were connected to the all remaining residential buildings. From 2005, extensive renovation work was carried out. The settlement was transferred on 1 October 2005 in a non-profit.
• Past workers' settlement cake