Lately we read an interesting article about a building we frankly have not thought about in recent years – the Haus Schminke by Hans Sharon in Loebau, Saxony, Germany.
As important as Villa Tugendhat by Mies van der Rohe or Fallingwater (Kaufmann House) by Frank Lloyd Wright also Haus Schminke was customized to meet the needs of the owner as well as the need to complement the natural environments by impressive solutions.
In 1930, Hans Scharoun designed the house for Fritz Schminke who was the owner of a noodle factory in Loebau, Saxony, Germany and who wished for “… a modern house for two parents, four children and one or two occasional guests… “.
The realization was both at the same time, fancy and functionally adequate. A curved main body, terraces, outside stairs and numerous round, porthole shaped windows inspire the connotation to a steamship. Rooms merge flowingly; generous grasslands involve the garden as an extension of living space as well. Beside span and lucency, manifold design elements form the spatial experience. Developed especially for the house, their colors and shapes set outstanding courses. In contrast, utility rooms – including a Frankfurt kitchen – and the sleeping area remain sparse by intention and include easy to clean surfaces and space-saving built-in closets.
Herta Hammerbacher designed the garden as a dynamic connection between architecture and landscape. Basic design and materials of structural elements were continued into the garden in order to generate a composition of both organic and inorganic. This design approach was a very typical one by the landscape architect Herta Hammerbacher, who had previously worked with the Karl Foerster and Hermann Mattern “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gartengestaltung” (a landscape gardening consortium) for more than two decades.
As early as 26 years after completion, people took notice that the Haus Schminke might become a historical monument, thus it was registered and finally placed under memorial protection in 1978.
Unfortunately for us here in Italy it’s a ten hour drive but we would love to visit the house next spring! What about you?
Kirschallee 1B
D-02708 Löbau
Deutschland/Germany
Images: Peter Emrich, Pinterest, dw.com, stiftung-hausschminke.eu
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