Germany Guide
Saxony-Anhalt and the Harz
The Törten
A leafy 1920s prototype housing-estate, the Törten lies 7km southeast of central Dessau: take tram #1 from the Hauptbahnhof to Dessau Süd to stop "Damaschkestrasse", then follow signs to Bauhaus Architektur. This low-rise estate was created as a model housing development that tried to combine the economy of prefabricated components with airy designs, sizeable gardens and ultimately decent living conditions for the working classes. Sadly the building standards were nowhere near as good as Gropius's designs, and many of the houses have since been altered – often in twee non-Bauhaus ways – by the owners.
The information centre for the estate is in the cheerless Stahlhaus, Südstrasse 5 (Feb– Oct daily 10am–6pm; Nov– Jan Tues– Sun 10am–5pm; free; 0340/858 14 20), also the starting point for tours (Mon 2pm, Tues– Sun 2pm & 3pm; €4) of the estate in German which also explore the outside of the Laubenganghäuser, a red-brick apartment block by Hannes Meyer, the second Bauhaus director; Haus Fieger, Carl Fieger's futuristic home; and the Konsumgebäude, Gropius's corner-shop design.
The only dwelling to have been restored to its original design – and the only one open to the public – is the Moses-Mendelssohn-Zentrum, Mittelring 38 (March– Oct daily 10am–7pm; Jan & Feb Sat & Sun 1–4pm; €2; 0340/850 11 99), where the life of this humanist, philosopher and Dessau native is explored. An English-language guide to the architecture is available at the front desk.