The Hansaviertel Apartments, located in Berlin, Germany was Aalto's first housing project, and arguably his most successful. Constructed as part of the Berlin International Building Exhibition in 1957 on a bomb damaged site along with other projects buy notable architects such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.
The building was sited in a park like setting with varying types from single story to housing blocks. The layout was innovative, where Aalto rotated 10 housing units per floor around two central stairs and elevators into two separate yet linked housing blocks. The plans were based on courtyard houses with multipurpose living and circulation space in the center. Balconies were also incorporated as a way of extending the living space to the outside, providing access from the main bedroom and dining rooms of each unit.
