UNESCO World Heritage: The White City

An architectural journey into the visionary living spaces of the 1920s

Join Dr. Andreas Butter on an exclusive journey into Berlin’s architectural heritage, discovering a remarkable landmark far removed from the usual tourist trails.

The White City (Weiße Stadt) in Berlin-Reinickendorf is one of the most significant examples of Modernist housing in Germany. It embodies the progressive architectural ideals and visionary concepts of urban living that emerged during the final years of the Weimar Republic.

On this exclusive tour, including visits to two distinctive apartments, you’ll discover how avant-garde architecture, social progress, and new ways of living came together in a pioneering vision that continues to resonate today.

An Intimate Introduction: Inside Historic Homes

Your experience begins in the apartment of Beate Nowack, Dr. Andreas Butter’s wife, located within the White City estate.

Over coffee or tea and light refreshments, you’ll explore the history of the estate through original historical documents. Visits to two carefully selected apartments - including an artist’s studio - offer rare insights into the innovative floor plans, light-filled interiors, and forward-thinking residential concepts of the 1920s, bringing the spirit of the era vividly to life.

Discovering the White City

Andreas Butter then guides you through the estate’s park-like setting, introducing you to its architectural diversity, advanced building technologies, and distinctive functionalist aesthetic.

Beyond its architectural achievements, the White City embodies an ambitious social vision: a more equitable way of living, reflected in communal facilities and progressive ideas about the relationship between home, work, and family.

Dr. Butter also explores the international context of Modernism and the contributions of Jewish architects to Berlin’s architectural landscape during the interwar years.

Architectural Excursion: The Schillerpark Estate

The journey continues to the Schillerpark Estate, another outstanding example of Neues Bauen—the progressive Modernist movement that transformed architecture and urban housing in the 1920s. Like the White City, it forms part of Berlin’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Modernist Housing Estates.

Designed by Bruno Taut, one of the leading figures in socially oriented housing of the Weimar Republic, the estate reveals a contrasting architectural character. Here, expressive brick façades replace the White City’s signature white surfaces.

Dr. Butter explores Taut’s architectural language, his social ideals, and the wider influence of his work. Comparing the two estates offers a deeper understanding of the diversity, ambition, and international significance of Classical Modernism.

Who Is This Experience For?

An enriching experience for anyone interested in architecture, social history, and the evolution of modern urban living in the 20th century - guided by a distinguished expert in his field.