Richard Paulick

Richard Paulick (7 November 1903 – 4 March 1979) was a German architect with political connections. He enjoyed a productive period in the Shanghai International Settlement between 1933 and 1949. He has been described as the "father of East-German Plattenbau", almost invariably grey unpainted and uncladded apartment blocks, using large standardised concrete slabs prefabricated off-site. The construction techniques used for large-scale low-cost residential developments on the edge of East German cities during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were widely used elsewhere in Europe, not least to expand or to "redevelop" cities in England, Scotland and West Germany during the 1960s and 1970s.

Paulick had a significant public profile in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and his postulation was implemented in the new towns of Hoyerswerda, Schwedt, and Halle-Neustadt. In the eyes of admirers, Paulick was able to bring an element of "humanisation" to the economics-driven, low-cost, high-density, post-war reconstruction of East Germany.