Equal first place in the 1908 competition for the development of Greater Berlin established Hermann Jansen as a significant figure in urban planning. His comprehensive approach, which prioritized connected green corridors and efficient transport, sought to resolve the housing and expansion challenges facing the German metropolis during a period of rapid, unplanned industrial growth.
Early Education and Professional Beginnings
Born in Aachen in 1869 to Francis Jansen and Maria Anna Catharina Arnoldi, Hermann Jansen pursued an education at the Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium. He later studied architecture at RWTH Aachen University under Karl Henrici, graduating in 1893. Following a stint in an Aachen office, he relocated to Berlin in 1897 and established a firm with William Mueller two years later. By 1903, he assumed editorial duties for the architecture publication The Builder.
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Jansen’s competition entry for Berlin gained recognition for its integration of an inner and outer green ring, utilizing parks and forests to define urban boundaries. The proposal addressed the city’s overcrowding through a fast transport network and the development of suburban settlements intended for less-privileged populations. While World War I curtailed the full execution of these designs, the core concepts were exhibited at the 1910 General Town Planning Exhibition.
Academic Contributions and Urban Projects
Appointed professor of urban art at the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg in 1920, Jansen later held a chair at the University of Arts Berlin. Throughout his career, he influenced urban developments across Germany, including Emden, Goslar, and Schwerin, alongside international projects in Riga, Łódź, and Madrid. His work in Turkey included planning for Mersin, where a cemetery was established according to his specifications in 1938.
Master Plan for Ankara
In 1929, the Turkish government selected Jansen to design the development plan for the capital city of Ankara. His proposal respected the historical context by positioning new structures adjacent to the existing old city rather than replacing it. He implemented specialized functional zones and integrated green spaces into residential housing. Due to political pressures and ongoing criticism, the plan remained incomplete, leading Jansen to formally distance himself from the project in 1938.
Fast facts
- Born: 1869, Aachen
- Died: 1945, Berlin
- Education: RWTH Aachen University
- Awards: Goethe Medal for Art and Science (1939)
- Notable Role: Professor at Technische Universität Berlin
- Burial Site: Friedhof Heerstraße
- Key Project: Greater Berlin Competition (1910)
- International Work: Ankara Master Plan
Questions readers ask
What was the core innovation of the Jansen-plan?
It was the first comprehensive urban plan for Berlin, focusing on connecting central areas to suburbs via green corridors and rings of open space.
Why did Jansen withdraw from the Ankara project?
Persistent criticism and political intervention hindered the implementation of his designs, resulting in his request to remove his signature from the plan in 1938.
Achievements
- Goethe Medal for Art and Science
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