Nestled on the foothills of the Black Forest is Lahr, a small town in Germany near the French border. The Canada Ring designed and constructed by Heinrich Doll, Hans Walter Henrich and Klaus Humpert in 1962 testifies to the post-war recovery and cultural exchange between two great nations.
The brutalist residential building is a circular complex which was designed to accommodate the Canadian Armed Forces personnel who were stationed in the region. The design reflects a typical Modernist emphasis on functionality, with a layout that prioritizes simple, clean lines and practical living spaces.
Where Two Cultures Meet
The basic circular architectural arrangement of the complex gave it the designation of a ‘Ring’, such that the neighbourhood was designed with generous green spaces between buildings which created a certain sense of community but also gave room for privacy. It also featured distinct steep-pitched roofs similar to Black Forest architecture but with a modern twist. The interiors, however, included amenities familiar to North American families.
What made the Canada Ring particularly unique were the thoughtful details such that the Kitchens were designed to accommodate larger appliances, brought by the Canadian families. The strategic use of windows which were placed to maximize the limited winter sunlight, with community spaces incorporated into the design. This acknowledged the importance of community building for the families stationed there.
Living History
From 1957 until the 1990s, the Canada Ring housed generations of Canadian military personnel and their families during Germany’s Cold War years. The neighbourhood became a unique cultural island—a place where maple leaf flags flew alongside German ones, where Thanksgiving turkeys roasted in ovens built into traditional German cabinetry.
Preservation and Transformation
Following the end of the Cold War, many complexes or buildings where military families were stationed were demolished or even renovated. However, with efforts from preservationists, this historical complex was preserved.
The Canada Ring, today serves as apartments to German families, with several units preserved as they were when the families departed. It is complete with original fixtures and design elements. A small museum in what was once the community centre documents the neighbourhood’s unique history, featuring photographs, letters, and architectural plans from Doll’s archives.
Heinrich Doll passed away in 1989, just before the Berlin Wall fell and the purpose of his most famous project shifted. He never saw how his buildings would transition to their post-military life, but his attention to quality construction ensured they would stand the test of time.
For visitors to Lahr today, the Canada Ring stands as a testament to how architecture can embody historical moments and cross-cultural connections—a circular neighborhood that created endless connections between people from distant shores.
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