After the revolution and declaration of independence in 1963, former president Sheik Abeid Karume envisioned a new modern city according to the socialist model of housing in the neighborhood of Ng’ambo. (Directly east of the historic centre) As a gesture of recognition for accepting the DDR as a state, the east German regime gifted the first “Plattenbauten” in the area of Kikwajuni between1964 and 1966. The completely prefabricated buildings, including the kitchens and hot water systems were shipped from Germany to Zanzibar. Two variations of Plattenbau were erected: a three storey building with a floorplan well known in east Germany and a double maisonette version (four storeys).  In 1969 the construction started of further prefabricated concrete apartment blocks designed by a team of east German architects led by Hubert Scholz. The original vision for the buildings included government offices, a new central post office, cinema, polyclinic, main mosque, library, supermarket, shops and restaurants to form the new centre of the city. When the German architect left Zanzibar, president Karume only realized certain aspects of the original design. Instead of public facilities, 300m long apartment blocks were erected, creating the remarkable urban cross in the middle of Ng’ambo. The so called Michenzani Blocks are four to eight stories high and feature apartments with two or three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom and a loggia. Despite being the tallest apartment buildings on Zanzibar, no elevators were included into the planning.