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.

The name Karusel comes from the house's shape and its facade bands: three blue stripes below the eaves and a brick band at the base. Asta Nielsen and her daughter Jesta bought the house in 1928 and spent months there until 1936, receiving well-known guests; Nielsen left Germany in 1937 and left the furnishings behind. Single surviving pieces of her furniture are displayed in the house today.

The Karusel at Zum Seglerhafen 7 in Vitte is now the Asta-Nielsen-Museum, open since 15 May 2015 with fixed opening hours and guided tours; a wedding room occupies the upper floor. The other three Taut houses are privately used and can only be seen from outside. The island has no cars, so the houses are reached on foot or by bicycle.

The name "Karusel" comes from the house's shape and its striking facade bands: three blue stripes below the eaves and a brick band at the base. A diagonal ridge divides the roof into two halves, one holding two unequal bat dormers with red wooden cladding, the other a large balcony with red walls, a blue floor and a blue-and-white parapet.