Fritz-Heckert-Heim

The Fritz-Heckert-Heim is a holiday residence in Gernrode near Quedlinburg, located on Kuhkopf hill north of the Harz Mountains. The complex features a main building with a curved entrance area and multiple terraces that extend across the sloping terrain.

Built between 1952 and 1954 by the Maedecke engineering office, it was East Germany's first newly constructed holiday home. It emerged during a period when the state aimed to create modern recreational facilities for its citizens.

The building's design drew from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Village concept and represents Classical Modernism of its era. Its layout and architectural choices reflect ideas about modern living that were considered progressive at the time.

The building has stood vacant since 1990 and visibly requires extensive renovation work throughout. Redevelopment plans announced in 2021 proposed converting it into holiday apartments and sports facilities, though its current status remains uncertain.

In 1959 the building was featured on an East German postage stamp, achieving national recognition rarely granted to holiday homes. This honor revealed how the state viewed the project as a symbol of its modern policies.