Apartment House for Interbau Exhibition - Walter Gropius

An architectural floor plan by Walter Gropius for the Interbau exhibition in Berlin, showcasing the precise geometry and functional design of his post-war housing project.

This architectural drawing presents the typical floor plan and roof plan for the apartment block designed by Walter Gropius for the 1957 Interbau exhibition in the Hansaviertel district of West Berlin. The project was a collaboration between Gropius and his firm, The Architects Collaborative (TAC). The plan illustrates the curved geometry of the building, a design choice intended to optimise light exposure and spatial flow for the residents.

The drawing displays the technical precision characteristic of Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus. It includes detailed annotations, measurement lines, and structural markers that define the layout of the individual units and the circulation cores. The curved form of the structure is clearly delineated, showing the arrangement of living spaces, balconies, and stairwells. The inclusion of the roof plan provides a view of the building's footprint and its relationship to the surrounding site.

As a document of post-war urban reconstruction, this plan reflects the focus on functionalism and social housing that defined the Interbau exhibition. The Hansaviertel project sought to demonstrate modern living standards through rational planning and industrialised construction methods. The drawing serves as a record of the design process, capturing the transition from conceptual geometry to the technical requirements of construction. The clean lines and systematic organisation of the space demonstrate the clarity of thought that Gropius applied to residential architecture throughout his career. This print offers a view into the methodology of one of the twentieth century's most influential architects, providing a clear look at the structural logic behind a significant example of Berlin's post-war architectural heritage.