When you are looking around for a new apartment to rent or check out, there are some terms that often get tossed around that you may not know of. Two of the most common terms are “prewar” and “postwar”. Well if you have ever been curious about those terms, you have come to the right place. To give you a better understanding of what differentiates the two here is some more information about differences, characteristics, etc.
Prewar apartments
Prewar apartments are apartments in buildings that were built before the Second World War. These are characterized by unique layouts, high ceilings, crown molding, sturdy construction, and more. These often have real wood flooring, large doorways, and heavy wooden doors. They are built very well and most have stood the test of time. While these might not have the new and fancy amenities that many newer apartments might have, they are still a very popular and desirable option. There is a ton of demand for these apartments and people seem to really love them for their charm and character.
Postwar apartments
As you could probably imagine, a postwar apartment is one that was built after the Second World War but before the 1990s. These apartments tend to show characteristics based off of the decade they were built. Design and architecture changed a lot from the 50s to the 90s, and that is reflected in the style of postwar apartments. So there is a ton of variety in terms of how these can look. Older postwar places might be made of brick and have parquet floors, while newer ones might have things like modern amenities, and be a little bit more “cookie-cutter” in their appearance. These postwar apartments are also quite a bit easier to renovate and things can often be swapped out with ease, requiring little work.
So as you can see, there are quite a few differences between the two. Prewar apartments are considered to be better built, but also offer quite a bit less flexibility for adjustments or renovations. They (prewar) often have more character and each apartment is different from one another, while postwar apartments often look similar to other units that were built in the same time frame or area. They each have their pros and cons, and ultimately, it will come down to your own personal tastes when it comes to which type of apartment you decide to rent.
