Althoffblock, Residential architectural ensemble in Innenstadt-West, Germany
The Althoffblock is a residential complex in western Dortmund organized around several large courtyards with green spaces, playgrounds, and lawns spanning thousands of square meters. The four-story buildings create an enclosed environment that separates residents from the surrounding streets.
Construction began in 1914 as a project of a housing cooperative that would eventually manage thousands of apartments throughout Dortmund. The cooperative's building programs shaped how many residents lived in the city for generations.
Residents design and care for individual gardens within the courtyards themselves, showing how much they value these shared spaces as their own.
Apartments typically range from 45 to 75 square meters, accommodating different household sizes. Vehicle access is limited to maintenance purposes, so the complex is designed primarily for pedestrian movement.
Seven building blocks form a cross pattern created by the intersection of Althoffstrasse and Roseggerstrasse. This layout provides separate gated entrances that shield the residential community from the busier streets nearby.
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