Anyone strolling through the Lankow district of Schwerin today can hardly imagine that a peaceful village life once prevailed here. Lankow was first mentioned in a document in 1237, and until the early 20th century, rural tranquility shaped the image: seven farms, some smallholdings, and a few houses, along with three brickworks, formed the core of the small community, which also included a village school and a cozy inn. In 1928, after being incorporated into Schwerin, there were just 632 inhabitants. The major transformation came in the 1960s. 

As part of socialist housing construction, prefabricated buildings suddenly sprang up like mushrooms. Within just eleven years, 6,000 new apartments were created, providing homes for around 20,000 people.

Today, Lankow presents itself as a vibrant district, popular with young and old alike. Of the once towering high-rise buildings, only one remains – the high-rise at Rahlstedter Straße 1/2, built in 1967. After an extensive renovation in 2016, the ten-story building with its 380 apartments became a real eye-catcher. Particularly interesting is the story of how the building got its distinctive colors: The Schwerin Housing Association (WGS) took a completely new approach to citizen participation in the facade design and put the designs by architect Roland Schulz to a public vote. In this process, not only the tenants were allowed to name their favorites. The local council was also involved, and even the entire Schwerin population could cast their votes on Facebook. The options included a classic design and two colorful proposals. The final decision was made at the last minute: shortly after construction began, the winning design was chosen. The result of this remarkable citizen participation is literally something to behold: the chosen colorful facade design in camouflage style makes the high-rise a visible landmark of Lankow and symbolically represents the successful transformation of the district. 

But the high-rise became a work of art not only on the outside. Something very special was also created inside. The artist Michael Frahm transformed the hallways into a walk-in gallery of stories. For each of the ten floors, he created a large-scale, individual artwork. What makes these images so unique is that they tell the personal moments of happiness of the residents. Frahm literally went deep: he himself moved into an apartment in the high-rise and set up his studio on the seventh floor, where neighbors could watch him as he created the artworks. In personal conversations, he collected the stories of the tenants and artfully wove them into his works. For example, he immortalized the moving tale of a tenant about her trip to America and a special discovery in the desert. Each floor received its own color scheme – from earthy tones to heavenly blue. Thus, the former prefabricated building became not only an exterior gem but also an inner living testament to its residents and their stories. 

Of the approximately 9,800 residents of Lankow, several thousand live in apartments managed by WGS.
They particularly appreciate the district's proximity to nature while still being close to the city center. The Friedrichsthaler Forest invites long walks, while Lankow Lake and the Neumühler Lake, accessible via a pedestrian bridge, are perfect spots for water sports and relaxation. Since 1996, the Lankow Sports Park has also developed into a popular meeting place for sports enthusiasts.

And this attractive district continues to write its story – from a peaceful village to a socialist large housing estate to a modern residential quarter that combines urban living with natural idyll.