"The 'Long Johann': Standing Tall as Bavaria's Highest Residential Structure"

In the heart of Erlangen, the 80-meter-high residential building known as the Long Johann stands as a testament to daring architecture and affordable living. Built in the early 1970s by the architectural firm kubus4 aus Erlangen, it is Bavaria's tallest residential building, a record that remains unchallenged to this day.

The Long Johann spans across 27 floors, housing a total of 384 apartments. These range from affordable one-room apartments in the east tower to more expensive two and three-room apartments in the west tower. The building is situated in the Erlangen district of Alterlangen, contributing significantly to the city's skyline.

The residents of the Long Johann are a mixed bunch, including high-rise enthusiasts and singles who can only afford or choose the affordable one-room apartments. Despite facing tough times after the Zeitgeist shifted, the Long Johann has survived successfully and established itself as a permanent landmark in Erlangen.

The top of the Long Johann features luxurious penthouse apartments with private rooftop terraces, offering stunning views of the city. The retro ambiance of the entrance area, featuring orange elevators and security cameras, adds a unique charm to the building. Brown tiles complete the authentic 70s ambiance, while numerous surveillance cameras ensure the safety of the residents.

The Long Johann's distinctive orange elevator doors in the entrance area are a retro eye-catcher. Ashtrays from bygone times still hang on the walls, although smoking has been banned there for a long time. The building's design harks back to an era when architects dared to build tall, shaping the skyline of Erlangen.

Nationwide, the Grand Tower completed in Frankfurt in 2020 is almost twice as high as the Erlangen residential giant at 180 meters. However, there is currently no comparable mega-high-rise project in the Free State of Bavaria, making the Long Johann unmatched in the region.

The future of high-rises in Bavaria potentially experiencing a boom remains uncertain. For now, the Long Johann continues to stand tall, a symbol of affordable living and daring architecture in Erlangen.