A Comparative Schema Proposal for Three Siedlungen: Design for a New Living

ABSTRACT Alongside the advent of industrial capitalism in the nineteenth century, Europe witnessed a profound transformation in its social, economic and political structures. This resulted in a shift in architectural styles that reflected the changing needs and aspirations of the age. This transformation was not merely a material one, manifesting in formal architectural expressions, but also an inherent one, characterized by a transformation in living styles. The Siedlung (settlement) was a typology of architecture that emerged in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Poland in response to the socio-spatial reorganization of urban areas. It was part of a larger urban zoning plan and constituted a housing district within an industrial city. However, in addition to residential buildings, the Siedlung also included facilities such as educational, commercial and religious institutions, integrated into the settlement area with the aim of fostering a sense of community. The organization of living space in each Siedlung was not entirely identical; rather, their design was formed within a conceptual understanding that sought to address the needs of its users or the context in which it was built. This study aims to interpret the diverse architectural formulation of the Siedlung and its interaction with society. Furthermore, the objective is to propose a comparative scheme for these distinctive settlements. To this end, three cases are selected from diverse time periods, contexts and places: the Siedlung Praunheim in Germany; the Siedlung Frankendaal in Netherlands; and the Siedlung Halen in Switzerland. These cases are presented and discussed in order to illustrate the multiplicity of design concepts.