Houses in Hiddensee, Architectural summer houses in Hiddensee, Germany
Houses in Hiddensee is a group of four expressionist summer residences located in the Vitte district, recognized for their curved corners, red tile roofs, and brightly painted facades. These buildings line the path Zum Seglerhafen near the harbor and form a protected ensemble that remains well preserved today.
Architect Max Taut designed the houses between 1922 and 1925 as private summer retreats for artists and actors during the Weimar Republic. The Karusel house was purchased in 1928 by silent film actress Asta Nielsen, who spent several summers there with her family.
Each house carries a nautical name that echoes the sailing tradition of the island, connecting the modern design to the maritime life of the local community. The bright paint choices and rounded shapes stand out as a deliberate break from the modest white cottages that line the rest of the shore, showing how architects and artists wanted to live differently in the interwar years.
The houses stand along the harbor path and can be viewed from the outside, as they remain privately owned and not open to the public. Walking through Vitte is straightforward, since the entire island is car-free and all points of interest lie close together.
The Karusel house takes its name from the round shape that recalls a carousel, and its blue and white stripes evoke the beach chairs found along the coast. The bat-wing dormers on the roof are a rare detail seen in only a few buildings from this period.
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