The Heimatschutz style and Reform architecture define two closely intertwined trends of early modernism that developed at the beginning of the 20th century from a conscious departure from late Wilhelmine historicism.
Both approaches aimed to translate traditional building methods and regional identities into a contemporary design language without resorting to romanticised historical stylistic references. Common features include the use of materials typical of the culture and region, craft-oriented constructions and a reduced, clearly structured design that incorporates historical references structurally rather than decoratively.
The Heimatschutz style emphasised a return to regional building traditions, the integration of buildings into the landscape and a scale based on rural village typologies. It was also a reaction to increasing urbanisation and shaped the company's own housing and residential construction in the early 20th century, which was strongly influenced by the English garden city movement.
Reform architecture, on the other hand, pursued a more comprehensive conceptual approach. It tied in with architectural theory positions that demanded ‘sincerity’ in architecture. This included, in particular, the clarity of tectonic structures, material-appropriate constructions and a consistent departure from historicist stylistic references for decorative purposes. It is characterised by reduced ornamentation and a structural orientation towards simple geometric forms. While reform architecture takes regional traditions into account, it also conveys the rationalised design principles of the later New Building movement. It thus forms a central link between late historicism and early modernism – both theoretically and in terms of design.
After the Second World War, both movements increasingly lost importance, but continued to have an impact on reconstruction until the 1950s. Their legacy is present in numerous workers' housing estates, public buildings and urban ensembles, in which regional identities and changing realities of life are closely interwoven through industrialisation and urban growth.
Author: Editorial baukunst-nrw
Advanced search with more criteria
Total projects: 483
