Rapid urbanization from mid-century onward resulted in rental barracks [Mietskaserne] like the one pictured here, which were designed to pack as many housing units as possible into the smallest possible space. The inner courtyards were often so tiny that they barely met the building code, which was based on the spray radius of a fire hose. Politicians’ unwillingness of to intervene on behalf of working-class tenants and the pressure on landlords to meet the demands of lending banks ensured that virtually no provisions were made for adequate light, ventilation, and green space. Conditions worsened as more and more tenants took lodgings in the cellars and attics of these buildings.