Documenta urbana, Experimental housing complex in Süsterfeld-Helleböhn, Germany
Documenta Urbana is a housing complex in Kassel with 137 residential units arranged in clusters along Heinrich-Schütz-Allee. The different buildings combine varied architectural designs with green spaces and pathways that connect the site.
The project was built between 1980 and 1982 to counter the monotonous architecture that had dominated Kassel in previous decades. A distinctive long structure called the 'Snake' was added in 1982-1983, expanding the original development.
The housing development shows how residents in the 1980s wanted to live differently, with shared spaces instead of isolated homes. You can see today how the architecture was meant to foster neighborhood connection and how daily life centers around these community areas.
The complex sits at the edge of the Dönche nature reserve, giving residents direct access to green and outdoor recreation areas. Apartments and single-family homes are connected by a pathway network that opens toward the natural area beyond.
The 'Snake,' a long winding structure, curves through the site in an unexpected serpentine shape when viewed from above. This unusual feature was intentionally designed to support the flow between residential spaces and green areas.
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