Wohnanlage Altensteiner Straße, Ruhla

The Altensteiner Strasse complex is a residential ensemble of six connected blocks that sit integrated into the steep slope of Dornsen Mountain in Ruhla. The development contains 55 housing units, each with two rooms, a kitchen, and shared bathrooms located in the attic area.

The complex was built between 1926 and 1928 by architect Thilo Schoder using industrially prefabricated components developed by Erik Dorst. During the Nazi period, the original flat roofs were changed to pitched roofs, which were then restored to their original design in 2002.

The complex introduced balconies to worker housing, a feature that had previously been reserved for factory owners' villas. This addition changed how the buildings looked and improved daily life for residents in this industrial town.

The complex sits on a steep slope and is reached via steps and walkways, so exploring it requires climbing and descending throughout your visit. Walking through the connected blocks offers different viewpoints and angles on the design and the surrounding terrain.

The construction used industrially prefabricated components, which was unusual for residential buildings at that time and saved both construction time and costs. This building method was an early approach to using standardized parts, decades before modern prefab construction became common.