More than a quarter million East German prefabricated houses known as EW 58 and EW 65 still stand across eastern Germany today, representing an innovative response to the housing crisis that plagued the former German Democratic Republic. These standardized single-family homes, built between 1958 and 1989, are now capturing renewed interest from architects and engineers who see them as viable solutions to contemporary housing challenges.
The houses feature a distinctive design with a ground floor topped directly by a roof, under which bedrooms, children's rooms, and bathrooms are typically located. The designation "EW" stands for "Einzelwohnhaus" (single dwelling house), while the numbers indicate the year the designs were developed. The original concept came from architect Wilfried Stallknecht, whose ideas were later refined by architect Reinhard Blumenstein to create the EW 65 format.
Experts estimate that approximately 265,000 of these prefabricated houses remain throughout the former East German territory, though exact numbers are unknown. Brandenburg has many such homes, often clustered in residential developments. The houses were not only practical and robust but also represented a unique phenomenon: privately built homes for personal use in the middle of a socialist system.
In today's era of absurdly high construction costs and housing shortages, these structures are gaining renewed attention. Recent symposiums, including one organized by the Brandenburg university consortium InNoWest at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, have explored the question of whether the EW 58 has a future. The consortium is actively searching for sustainable solutions for the construction industry.
"The building substance absolutely must be preserved," demands engineer Luise Albrecht, an InNoWest team member. She emphasizes that this isn't solely about the important ecological issue of construction waste generated by demolitions. "These houses emerged in a very specific context," she explains, noting they were an answer to the housing shortage in East Germany, where private construction was actually encouraged within the socialist system, contributing to identity formation.
The standardized aspects of these homes included normalized floor space, calculated structural engineering, room layout, and materials. Plans and construction methods were pre-approved by authorities and could be implemented by private individuals using craftsmen and neighborhood assistance when building land was available.
Although materials often required improvisation, the walls were always masonry construction, and the basic form remains consistently recognizable. Homeowners invested their hearts into these projects, which is why most buildings remain in good condition today. "The floor plan works superbly," says Munich-born architect Christian Bernrieder, praising the ideas of East German architect Wilfried Stallknecht. He particularly admires the well-thought-out design of the entrance hall with toilet and adjoining staircase serving as a distributor.
Bernrieder's Berlin architecture firm BSL comprehensively renovated an EW 65 house in the Uckermark region, with results that look like a modern new construction. However, the owners weren't browsing home design magazines for inspiration. "They were extremely pragmatic," Bernrieder notes, though he doesn't disclose the renovation costs. Ulrich Schwarz, professor of design and construction at the University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde, suspects the costs would approach those of building a new house.
More affordable options exist, according to Schwarz. "If you only do blown-in insulation in the lower living area, you save up to 25 percent of heating costs and land in the mid four-figure range for expenses," he explains. The houses offer 110 to 130 square meters of living space, and while statistics show that today's space demands are larger than in the 1970s, Schwarz still recommends preserving EW 58 and EW 65 structures.
"You already have the floor plan, and much can be done with it," Schwarz emphasizes. In Eberswalde, for example, one resident gained an additional room in the main building by relocating the staircase and toilet to an annex. At the university, numerous bachelor's and master's theses are currently exploring various possibilities, including adding upper floors. Schwarz is confident that the InNoWest consortium will present many suggestions for modernizing and expanding this house type in coming years.
Enginner Luise Albrecht agrees that given today's construction prices, hardly a better compromise between affordable homeownership and adequate living space can be achieved than by acquiring an EW 58 or EW 65 series house, particularly in rural areas. "The houses have relatively solid substance," confirms structural engineer Finn Schmid-Bonde from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. "I think you can work well with these buildings and also upgrade them very effectively."
Architect Christian Bernrieder anticipates that many of these houses will soon transfer to the next family generation or be acquired by other interested parties. A subsequent renovation wave of EW 58 and EW 65 buildings would not be unlikely, representing a renaissance for these innovative East German housing solutions that continue to inspire contemporary architects with their practical design and enduring functionality.
