A house from the factory!
Interactive tour for primary schools
What are prefabricated buildings? And what is actually special about them? In the City Museum's special exhibition, you can find out how this type of construction came about and why there are so many prefabricated buildings.
Primary school KU [ Kl. 1-4. LB 1], [ Kl. 1-2. WB 2], [Kl. 4 LB 2, WB 2], SU [Kl. 2-4 LB 5]
€5 per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
Practical modules can be booked to build on the tour.
about the exhibition
Practical module 1: My pattern for the "Platte
Bookable only in combination with the tour "A house from the factory!"
"Platte" is grey and boring! Is that really true? In our exhibition, we will show you how colourful and diverse "Platte" was and is. Afterwards, you can decorate your own plates with your own patterns in our workshop.
Primary school KU [ Kl. 1-4. LB 1], [ Kl. 1-2. WB 2], [Kl. 4 LB 2, WB 2], SU [Kl. 2-4 LB 5]
1 € per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
to the exhibition
Practical Module 2: Your plaster casts!
Bookable only in combination with the ‘A House from the Factory!’ tour
Become a master builder and design your very own piece of the city! Create your own mini concrete slab using liquid plaster. Before the plaster sets, it’s time to add some colour! Decorate your »Platte« with colourful stones, glittering sand and mosaic tiles. Whether it’s a colourful block of flats or a stylish pattern – you decide what the »Platte« of the future will look like.
KU Primary School [Years 1–4, LB 1], [Years 1–2, WB 2], [Year 4, LB 2, WB 2], SU [Years 2–4, LB 5] WE [Years 1–2, LB 3], [Year 3, WB 3]
€1 per person; accompanying adults get free entry
to the exhibition
Practical Module 3: It’s worth taking a closer look!
Guided tour with the
Youth Art School.Can only be booked in combination with the ‘A House from the Factory!’ walking tour
We’re going on a discovery tour of Gorbitz. Where do thousands of people live in rows of standardised buildings – seemingly endless stacks of boxes that always create the same streetscape? Come on, let’s take a closer look and discover the differences! Our route takes us past beautifully designed open spaces for young and old, modern monuments, a bath full of bubble bath, women’s power in the service of science, and a network of diverse activities for children and young people.
If you’re interested, please contact the Dresden Youth Art School (anmeldung@jks.dresden.de). For any questions regarding the programme’s content, please contact Ms Beate Hanisch (BHanisch@jks.dresden.de).
€4 per person; accompanying adults are admitted free of charge
to the exhibition
Platte East / West – Interactive tour through the exhibition
Educational offer for secondary schools and grammar schools
Prefabricated buildings characterise the image of many cities in Germany. For people, they mean home and a daily living environment. At the same time, they have a bad reputation. Many people see them as monotonous, grey and dreary.
The tour provides an overview of the development of prefabricated buildings from the period after the Second World War to the present day. It sheds light on questions of technical realisation and the design diversity of prefabricated buildings and looks at the social aspects of living in large housing estates.
Oberschule [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2] [Kl. 9 KU LB 2] [Kl. 10 KU LB2] [Kl. 9 GE WB] [Kl. 10 GE WB]
Gymnasium [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2] [Kl. 11/12 KU GK LB 2] [cl. 11/12 KU GK WB 2] [cl. 11/12 KU LK LB 2] [Kl. 11/12 KU LK WB 2] [Kl. 10 GE LB 2] [Kl. 10 GE WB 2] [Kl. 10 GE WB 3] [Kl. 11/12 GE GK LB 3] [Kl. 11 GE LK LB 1] [Kl. 11 GE LK LB 2] [Kl. 12 Geo GK LB 4] [Cl. 12 Geo LK LB 6]
€5 per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
Practical modules can be booked to build on the tour.
to the exhibition
Living space "Platte" – Building and living in East and West
Educational programme for secondary schools and grammar schools
The event focuses on the development of prefabricated housing in East and West Germany. What characterises prefabricated housing? What is in its favour? What are the arguments against it? What is it like to live in prefabricated housing? And what potential does this type of construction have in the future?
After a brief introduction to the exhibition, the pupils work independently in small groups on selected key topics and exhibits.
Secondary school [Year 7 KU LB 2] [Year 8 KU LB 2] [Year 9 KU LB 2] [Year 10 KU LB2] [Year 9 GE WB] [Year 10 GE WB]
Grammar school [Year 7 KU LB 2] [Year 8 KU LB 2] [Year 11/12 KU GK LB 2] [Year 11/12 KU GK WB 11/12 KU GK WB 2] [Kl. 11/12 KU LK LB 2] [Kl. 11/12 KU LK WB 2] [Kl. 10 GE LB 2] [Kl. 10 GE WB 2] [Kl. 10 GE WB 3] [Kl. 11/12 GE GK LB 3][Kl. 11 GE LK LB 1] [cl. 11 GE LK LB 2] [cl. 12 Geo GK LB 4] [cl. 12 Geo LK LB 6]
€5 per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
Practical modules can be booked to build on the tour.
to the exhibition
Practical module 1: More than concrete – slab production
Can only be booked in combination with the interactive tour or the event "Lebensraum Platte - Bauen und Wohnen in Ost und West "
How does a slab factory actually work? How are concrete slabs made? What materials are used? And how can the slabs be decorated? In the museum workshop, pupils try out various casting and finishing techniques with plaster in order to develop an understanding of the manufacturing processes and the materiality of the components.
Oberschule [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2]
Gymnasium [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2]
€1 per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
to the exhibition
Practical module 2: More than grey walls – panel design
Bookable only in combination with the interactive tour or the event "Lebensraum Platte - Bauen und Wohnen in Ost und West "
Not all prefabricated buildings are grey and monotonous. Components are often creatively designed: "Platte" slabs have textures and patterns, they are coloured or decorated with coloured ceramic tiles. Moulded concrete blocks characterise facades, walls and terraces with their geometric shapes. In the museum workshop, pupils experiment with different techniques and materials to creatively design "Platte".
Oberschule [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2]
Gymnasium [Kl. 7 KU LB 2] [Kl. 8 KU LB 2]
1 € per person, accompanying persons receive free admission
to the exhibition
Practical Module 3: More than Just Housing – Gorbitz: Prefabricated housing blocks between the past and the future
Guided tour with the
Youth Art School. Bookable only in combination with the interactive walking tour or the event ‘Lebensraum Platte – Building and Living in East and West’
Gorbitz bears witness to a time when, within the space of just a few years, new housing had to be created urgently for large numbers of people. The urban structures built at that time continue to shape the neighbourhood to this day. At the same time, the demands placed on the neighbourhood have changed: issues relating to the climate, as well as quality of housing and quality of life, are becoming increasingly important.
On our walking tour, we will explore how architecture, open spaces and infrastructure shape community life in Gorbitz. What were the key factors in the planning of the prefabricated housing estate? How and in what ways has the neighbourhood changed? What role do demolition, the design of open spaces, social infrastructure and mobility play in this? Among other things, we’ll encounter art in public spaces and discover telling details that reveal the neighbourhood’s transformation.
The tour invites you to use Gorbitz as a starting point for reflecting on urban development and developing your own perspectives on the city of today and tomorrow. How can we develop our cities in a sustainable way in the face of housing shortages, climate change and limited space?
If you are interested, please contact the Dresden Youth Art School: anmeldung@jks.dresden.de. For any questions regarding the programme’s content, please contact Ms Beate Hanisch: BHanisch@jks.dresden.de.
€4 per person; accompanying adults are admitted free of charge
to the exhibition
Training in the special exhibition
Tue 25 Aug 16:00
"Platte Ost / West. Living and building in large panel construction"
The new special exhibition at the Dresden City Museum is dedicated to the industrially manufactured prefabricated buildings that still characterise the appearance of many major German cities today. Using selected examples, the exhibition traces the development of industrial housing construction from 1900 to the present day. It shows the similarities and differences in East and West and presents the potential and limitations of the technology.
The exhibition centres on questions about housing. A wide range of exhibits such as furniture, furnishings and photographs, as well as autobiographical audio and video contributions, provide answers to the questions: Who were prefabricated flats built for? How much living space was available and how was it used? Who lives in prefabricated housing today? How has living here changed? We will give you an exclusive tour of the exhibition and then present our educational programme for all class levels.
The training course is published under the event number EXT05959 (5 March) or EXT06089 (25 August) in the online training catalogue on the Saxony School Portal.
Register online or contact the visitor service of the Museums of the City of Dresden on +49 351 488 7272 (Mon - Fri)