The history of Meyer’s houses: teaching from necessity in Leipzig!

The history of Meyer’s houses: teaching from necessity in Leipzig!

In German housing history, the so -called “Meyer’s houses” play an outstanding role. In order to offer the needy to affordable accommodation, Hermann Julius Meyer, a visionary publisher from Gotha, laid the foundation for a reform of the rental apartment in the late 19th century. As the Kirchenzeitung reported, Meyer founded the "Association for the Building of Cheap Apartments" in Leipzig in 1888. His goal was to create affordable living space for low-income families and to limit rents to around 15 % of the budget income.

The circumstances were catastrophic for the poorest sections of the population in cities like Berlin in the 19th century. Here the Alexandra Foundation used similar goals in 1852 and thus laid the foundation for social housing. Hermann Meyer followed this path and, until his death in 1909, created around 2,700 apartments in various colonies in Leipzig by his foundation. Between 1887 and 1937, four such colonies were built in Lindenau, Eutritzsch, Reudnitz and Kleinzschocher.

a pioneer of social housing

Meyer was not just a simple publisher, but a socio -political entrepreneur. With a total of seven million marks up to the end of his life, he made a decisive contribution to the foundation. As the landscapes in Germany , he maintained close cooperation with the architect Max Pommer, who designed the Meyer’s building.

The concept behind the Meyer’s houses was revolutionary: the tenants, mainly employees, craftsmen and factory workers, were able to afford living space that was not only affordable, but also above the standard at that time. With an average living space of 40 m², these apartments were more comfortable than the typical rent barracks of that time. Meyer also attached great importance to the self -government of the residents and the creation of community facilities such as kindergartens and rental libraries.

The development of social housing in Germany

Social housing in Germany has experienced various ups and downs over the years. As the website social-wohnungsbau.de , numerous laws to promote social housing were issued, started with the housing community law 1940 to the Living Spatering Act 2001. Support of non -profit housing companies.

Meyer’s vision continues today, influenced by foundations such as the Margarethe Krupp Foundation, which is considered the largest social housing foundation in Germany. It is a sign that the ideas that started here in Leipzig have proven themselves and developed over the decades. The Meyer’s houses are therefore not only an architectural heritage, but also a symbol of social responsibility and common sense in housing policy.

The memory of Hermann Julius Meyer lives on, not only through the impressive real estate that his legacy left, but also through the grown community, which has developed from the efforts of decent living space.