Berlin Hinterhof

A RE-POST Berlin's Courtyards The microcosm of the courtyard. 

© aboutpixel.de-Karsten_Holland

MORE AFTER THE BREAK

Berlin is not the only city that can boast about its courtyards, however there isn't another city in the world, for which this style of construction was as seminal to its architectural style. Due to targeted immigration polices of the Prussian rulers as well as other factors, Berlin's population began to boom in the 19th century and new residential buildings had to be constructed. In the 1870s, Berlin developed a population of over one million people, whereas only 220,000 people called themselves Berliners in the 1820s. This was a massive population increase, which had many dramatic results on the social and economic factors of city life. The city center residential districts had to be utilized as optimally as possible – this resulted in tenement houses. Behind the prestigious street-front buildings that served as the homes of the bourgeoisie, rear buildings were built across the city, which housed domestic employees, workmen, and the poorer social strata. The building's courtyard served as a separation for these differing social and spatial lifestyles – often three or four courtyards were placed in a row. In many buildings, architects utilized the minimal dimensions of the fire protection regulations to measure the courtyard's surface area, which resulted in rear plots with little sunlight and a darker atmosphere.

Yet these courtyards were also the locations of daily activities. The image of the courtyard was dominated by children running and playing around their mothers, who were busy chatting with their neighbors while doing the laundry. Visitors would meet the residents here – even the bathrooms were often located in the courtyard. The half-open space of the back courtyard, which was both accessible from the street yet also had a certain feel of privacy, became a focal point in the lives of the building's tenants. However, a majority of these old historic buildings have been renovated and they are now highly-coveted residential properties. With their varying garden styles and dimensions, the back courtyards also contribute to the attractiveness of such properties. The places used by domestic servants for private council meetings are now occupied by students and senior citizens as they take out the trash or lock their bicycles. Fine examples of refurbished and renovated courtyards can be found in the Hackeschen Höfen courtyards with the Rosenhöfen and Heckmannhöfen courtyards, which feature a strong commercial and cultural utilization.