Role of the reichsforschungsgesellschaft fuer wirtschaftlichkeit im bau - und wohnungswesen e.v in supporting non-traditional construction methods in german public housing in the late 1920s

Abstract

The purpose of this PhD thesis is to investigate the support of non-traditional construction methods in German public housing developments in the late 1920's by the Reichsforschungsgesellschaft fuer Wirtschaftlichkeit im Bau und Wohnungswesen e.V. (RFG). The thesis attempts to outline the social and economic context, the role of the state, professionals, press and the building industry in relation to the mass housing programme and the constructional methods encouraged by the RFG. The aspirations and strategies of the RFG are set out and compared with the actual projects funded. Housing projects have been chosen for the representation of the RFG as well as the position of the state, professionals and the press, whereby it has to be acknowledged that these stand for the conceptual position, rather than the general status of public housing. The general standard of public housing represented more a diluted version of these propositions.