T h e S T i f T u n g h A u S S C h M i n K e - Hess AG

T h e S T i f T u n g h A u S S C h M i n K e

T h e S T i f T u n g h A u S S C h M i n K e

Basement ground floor upper floor
„The house built by factory owner Schminke from Loebau, Saxony, remained my favorite one.“ hans Scharoun

The Modernity –
still inspiring: now and in the future
There is an outstanding example of a benchmark of architecture
in Loebau, Saxony: it’s the haus Schminke. it was
built in the beginning of the nineteen-thirties for the family
and factory owners Schminke by the architect hans
Scharoun and it is still one of the most important residential
This brochure was kindly supported by the hess group.
P r o L o g u e
buildings of the 20th century. The Stiftung haus Schminke,
a charitable foundation, has made it their mission to
preserve this outstanding architectural monument as a
testimony of the “new Building” for future generations.

Dear friends of the Haus Schminke,
The formation of the Stiftung haus Schminke, a charitable foundation, was an important decision to all of us of the grosse
Kreisstadt (greater District Town) of Loebau and we are sure it is the right way to preserve the “favorite house” by the
architect and professor hans Scharoun as a heritage for future generations.
A charitable foundation is one option to permanently ensure financing and operation of a cultural condition. Thus, it is
possible to maintain what is important to many people: The haus Schminke is precious and close to the hearts of many
citizens. The Stiftung haus Schminke has been capable of holding rights since May 2009 and will concentrate its attention
to this architectural monument which is famous all over the world. Activities are also a contribution to the so-called
“Cultural route” running from Dresden to upper Lusatia, which makes our region even more attractive to visitors.
At this point, i would like to thank the hess Ag for special engagement and i would like to point out that such initiative
would not be possible without and is based on their entrepreneurial success. The hess Ag as a founder contributes to
the monument becomes well known far beyond the region: Who could better do than a business which acts world-wide
itself?
external donation will be necessary for the charitable foundation in order to fulfill its manifold challenges. So, i would like
to cordially invite you to support the Stiftung haus Schminke.
Dietmar Buchholz
Lord Mayor of the City of Loebau
g r e e T

i n g S
Dear Sirs,
The city of Loebau has an architectural gem of international importance, the haus Schminke. This entails a special
commitment and steady challenge of preserving this monument, which exceed the scope of public authorities. i think, it
is not just about financial dimensions but also to ensure by ideational engagement the monument permanently earns its
importance and due appointment among architects world-wide.
As an enterprise resident and associated to Loebau and to the free State of Saxony, we feel responsible to contribute the
haus Schminke is maintained. We are also enthused by the clear, minimalist design vocabulary and the exemplary way the
house was complemented into its natural environment. As we are a producer of lamps and street lanterns, architecture has
always been our guideline and inspiration. further generations will be reemployed by the haus Schminke as a milestone
of modern architecture.
The city of Loebau and the hess Ag, as the founders, laid the cadre and it will now be important to put the charitable
foundation on a firm footing and financially wide base. Therefore, we need external donation from enterprises, public and
private institutions and citizens.
hoping you will assist us.
Christoph Hess
Ceo of hess Ag

The haus Schminke, built in the nineteen-thirties, is one of
four outstanding examples of the styles “new Architecture”
and “international style” (architecture). its importance
ranks among e. g. haus Tugendhat by Mies van der rohe
which is in Brno, Czech, Villa Savoye in Poissy near Paris
by Le Corbusier and the haus Kaufmann “fallingwater” in
Mill run, Pennsylvania, by frank Lloyd Wright. All these
houses were customized to meet their owners’ needs as
well as the need to complement the natural environments
by impressive solutions. As early as 26 years after
completion, the haus Schminke was considered to be of
a revolutionary style and recorded as a historical memorial
of the Modernity, thus finally listed under monument
conservation law in 1978.
hans Scharoun designed the house for the noodle
manufacturer fritz Schminke from Loebau in 1930. The
owner wanted “… a modern house for two parents,
four children and one or two occasional guests…” The
realization is both, fancy and functional. The curved
corpus with its terraces, external staircase and numerous
H a u s s c H m i n k e
porthole-shaped windows provide the impression of a
ship image. 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.

A V i V i D e V i D e n C e o f T h e M o D e r n i T Y
A changeful history
The Schminke family lived in the house for only 12 years.
in 1945, the russian red Army confiscated the house.
The expropriation by the former gDr state followed in
1952. it was used as a “haus der Pioniere” (“house for the
Pioneers”, the former official communistic organization for
children) until 1989 and as a holiday center after german
reunification. The three daughters of Charlotte and fritz
Schminke, gertraude Bleks, erika inderbiethen and helga
Zumpe, generously abstained from restitution of their
parents’ house in 1993 subject to future further public use
which paved the way for making the house accessible as
an architectural monument.
Decades of third-party use left deep traces to the house.
reconstruction works, supported by the city of Loebau
and the Wuestenrot foundation, brought several details to
light that had been lost. Among others, there were some
old photographs of the house’s construction. So, one
could identify some of the original interior design as e. g.
a sofa where all the four kids strung together could have
their siesta. Several lamps and the original fireplace were
found when the garden pond was reconstructed. Thanks
to Charlotte’s and fritz’ Schminke’s daughters, more and
more original objects returned to their places of origin as
e. g. the sofa in the bedroom, mother’s marital bed, a
scribe and some private books.
Since its reopening in 2001, the haus Schminke has
been open for tours and has attracted visitors interested
in history and architecture. it is also possible to book
the house for seminars, concerts or evening readings.
A special experience of staying overnight is offered to
smaller groups.
To secure the future
The Stiftung haus Schminke took sponsorship for the
architectural monument in May 2009. from now on, the
focus is fully on maintenance and needs of the haus
Schminke, as e. g. exploration and reconstruction of original
conditions as well as enhancement of conceptions of using
the house. The goal is to meet concerns of its importance
in an optimal way from architectural, cultural and historical
points of view. The foundation has own responsibility
regarding assignment of funds which provides purposive
action while considering current needs.
You, as a sponsor, will contribute to the haus Schminke
will remain as an object of cultural value for the current and
following generations. A one-time sponsorship will help to
ensure the future existence of the haus Schminke as one of
the architectural most important buildings of the region.

h A n S S C h A r o u n – o n e o f T h e g r e A T e S T
hans Scharoun is to be mentioned among the most
important representatives of the so-called organische
Architektur (organic Architecture), a movement within the
classical modernist art. he always sought the functional
correlation between a building and its territory. The idea
behind this was to develop a building design from its
implicated function in an “organic” way.
Scharoun was born in Bremen in 1893 and grew up in
Bremerhaven. So, seaport impressions contributed to his
personal style. They are reflected in many of his buildings:
Porthole-shaped windows, steel steps and rails, railingshaped
balustrades and balconies are typical elements
also to be found with the haus Schminke.
hans Scharoun studied architecture and building trade
at the Tu Berlin-Charlottenburg (Technical university)
from 1912 to 1914. After this, he worked with the office
of his mentor Paul Kruchen in insterburg until he became
appointed a professor to the “Staatliche Akademie fuer
Kunst und Kunstgewerbe” (Public Academy for Arts and
Crafts) Breslau (Wroclaw) in 1925. The one-family dwelling
in Stuttgart Weissenhofsiedlung (Weissenhof estate, also
Weissenhof Settlement), built in 1927, and the residential
home for the Breslau Werkbundausstellung, built in 1929,
as well as the large housing estate Siemensstadt, Berlin,
planned from 1929 to 1931, were trend-setting and
expressed an example of his way of executing socially
acceptable house buildings.
When the nazis came into power, modernist architecture
and arts came to an end. Most leading architects of
“neues Bauen” (new Building) emigrated. Scharoun stayed
but he was excluded from public contracts. he found a
market niche in developing dwelling houses: Where facing
a road, they “camouflaged” in their formal vocabulary of
architecture. Scharoun fixed his architectural ideas in
numerous water-colors continued to prepare himself for
the time after the nazis’ governance.
The Soviets’ Military Administration appointed Scharoun
to a Planning Director and head of the Construction and
housing Department of the Municipality of gross-Berlin
(greater Berlin). he presented his conception on how to
reconstruct Berlin at an exhibition which took place in
the White hall of the Berlin City Palace. Scharoun himself
called his intention a “Kollektivplan” (collective plan). The
plan was not just to rebuild but to basically reorganize
the urban space. finally, competitive conceptions were
executed, due to limited financial and technical resources,
as well as the beginning of the splitting of the town. All of
the conceptions were influenced by Scharoun’s drafts.

M A S T e r - B u i L D e r S o f T h e 2 0 T h C e n T u r Y
Scharoun was appointed a full professor at the Technical
university of Berlin in 1947. he taught there until 1958.
from 1947 to 1950, he also was a Director of the institute
for Civil engineering with the Deutsche Akademie der
Wissenschaften (german Academy of Sciences) in
hannoversche Strasse, east-Berlin, where he developed
the attic. in 1973/1974, the building became the office of the
“Staendige Vertretung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland bei
der DDr” (West german representation in east germany).
Today, it is the Berlin office of the federal Ministry of
research and education. The crowning achievement of
his works after World War ii was the Berliner Philharmonie.
it is calculated according to its utilization thus, a paradigm
for organic Architecture. Scharoun’s intention was “… to
give adequate forming to a place of playing music and
commonly experiencing it”. herrmann Mattern, who had
been introduced to Scharoun by his wife and garden
designer herta hammerbacher, designed the outside
facilities of the Berliner Philharmonie.

E X P E R I E N C E S C H A R O U N ’ S F A V O R I T E B U I L D I N G
Thousands of visitors from all over the world come to
Loebau each year in order to view the haus Schminke.
not just for architects: More and more cultural tourists
are increasingly interested in a guided tour and enjoy it
very much. A guest-night at the haus Schminke is a very
special and unforgettable experience.
Guided Tours
A guided Live Tour in german is possible at any time during
opening hours. We kindly ask you to advise us prior to any
group tours. You may also enjoy an Audio-guided house
Tour in german or english.
Guest-nights
Are you an architect, an architectural student or just
interested in modern architecture? Do you just want to
experience the haus Schminke quality of life? Then, just
seize the opportunity and stay overnight.
There is also opportunity, especially offered to larger
college and university study groups, to have a guest night
at the haus Schminke.
Events
The house is an ideal place to discuss about architecture,
urban layout or history of the arts. it also provides a unique
framework for a concert, evening reading or to hold a
reception. We will have pleasure in providing advice and
arranging the event at your option.
Opening hours
every day except Mondays: March to october 10 a.m. -
5 p.m., november to february 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Please, check opening hours with again prior to your
arrival, as we occasionally close for several special events.
for contact, registration, directions and entrance fees
please, see our website: www.stiftung-hausschminke.eu.

W e L L W o r T h S e e i n g
A visit to the haus Schminke can be completed to a unique
culture tour. A popular starting point is Dresden, capital
of the free State of Saxony, with its international airport.
The “City of Culture and Arts” is considered as one of
europe’s most beautiful cities. Visitors are impressed by
inimitable baroque and renaissance style buildings as e. g.
Dresdener Zwinger Palace, the Dresden residence Castle,
the Semper opera house and the Dresden frauenkirche
(Church of our Lady). raffael’s bold two putti of the Sistine
Madonna of Dresden’s Art Collections’ are advertised
throughout the world.
A cultural route from Dresden to Upper Lusatia
following the route, visitors arrive Bautzen, a city that
is more than 1000 years old is also called “The heart of
upper Lusatia”. Bautzen is one of the cultural centers of
the Wends and mainly known for its old Town with more
than 13 towers, many churches, ortenburg Castle as well
as the many, many alleyways have retained Bautzen’s
medieval character to date.
Traveling further eastwards, you’ll arrive Loebau which
is in 85 km distance from Dresden. Apart from the
haus Schminke, the historic center, which has been
reconstructed affectionately, and the cast-iron tower on
the local landmark mountain, unique throughout europe,
both are worth a visit, too.
in Zittau, 30 km from Loebau, the cultural route leads
you to 52 sights, representing the once richest city of the
“oberlausitzer Staedtebund” (Six Cities’ Alliance of upper
Lusatia).
By the river neisse, the german-Polish national border,
there is the european City goerlitz/Zgorzelec with its
almost 4,000 monuments from 500 years of european
building history which ranges from gothic, renaissance, to
Wilhelminian Style and Art nouveau Style. The city became
an uneSCo World heritage Site because of the unique
character of its interrelated townscape.
on both sides of the river neisse, the Muskauer Park
dispreads on more than 830 hectares throughout the
landscape of Lusatia. This park was designed by hermann
fuerst von Pueckler-Muskau in 1815. it is a worldwide
unequalled masterwork of landscape design and has been
an uneSCo World heritage Site since 2004.

W e L L W o r T h S e e i n g
The Path of “Die Moderne” (Modernity)
A visit to the Bauhaus with attached masters’ buildings
by Walter gropius in Dessau (distances: 130 km to Berlin,
250 km to Loebau) is a must for an enthusiast of the
Modernity. Today, the “Bauhaus Dessau is a vivid place for
experimental designing, research and teaching again.
from Loebau, it is just a few minutes by car to visit the
Wachsmannhaus in niesky, which is one of the most
important architectural evidence of the Moderne. it was built
as a Director’s apartment house by the Architect Konrad
Wachsmann in 1927. Konrad Wachsmann is considered
worldwide as the pioneer of industrial building.
if you go to Brno (Bruenn), Czech republic, there is the
house Tugendhat waiting for you, a masterpiece of classic
modern architecture and the most important building by
Ludwig Mies van der rohe in europe. When built in the
1920s, the Moravian metropolis had already become a
center of the avant-garde of architects.
Search for traces of Hans Scharoun
There is no better city of being aware hans Scharoun’s
producing than Berlin. Siemensstadt, which he designed,
has become a symbol of modern domestic construction
of the Weimar republic period. The Berliner Philharmonie,
opened up in 1963, is considered as the most important
work by hans Scharoun and as an example of an “organic
building”.
Traveling from Berlin via Loebau, the Polish Breslau
(Wroclaw), 200 km from Loebau is worth a visit. it s also
called the “Polish Venice”, because of its numerous bridges
and footbridges. Apart from other buildings characterizing
the architecture of the new Building, the home for single
persons by Scharoun is well worth seeing.
for further information please visit:
www.stiftung-hausschminke.de

hess gratuliert the zur hess gründung grOuP der cOngratulates stiftung haus schminkeOn
estaBlishment Of the charitaBle
fOundatiOn haus schminke
www.hess.eu

feASiBiLiTieS hoW To SuPPorT The founDATion
if you want to become an external donator, you can
announce this just by using the attached Signing Cer-
tificate form. Please, fill in this form completely, sign and
send original signature to:
Stiftung Haus Schminke
Kirschallee 1b
D-02708 Löbau
Germany
Correspondent Bank of the
Stiftung Haus Schminke
Sparkasse oberlausitz-niederschlesien
Account holder: Stiftung haus Schminke
Account number: 3000125700
national Bank Code: 850 501 00
iBAn: De82 8505 0100 3100 0332 71
BiC: WeLADeD1grL
note to payee: Stiftung haus Schminke
We will contact you upon receipt of the Signing Certificate
form. if you have any questions, we will have pleasure in
being at your disposal for one-to-one interviews. Just call
or send us an email.
Stiftung Haus Schminke
Katrin Schenk, Leiterin (Manageress) haus Schminke
Phone: +49 (0) 35 85 / 86 21 33
fax: +49 (0) 35 85 / 83 30 10
email: info@stiftung-hausschminke.eu
www.stiftung-hausschminke.eu
Initial benefactors
Stadt Löbau
Altmarkt 1
02708 Löbau
www.loebau.de
hess Ag
Lantwattenstraße 22
78050 Villingen-Schwenningen
www.hess.eu
Imprint
Published by: Stiftung haus Schminke,
Kirschallee 1 b, 02708 Loebau
Conceptual design created by:
CC Communications gmbh, Stuttgart
Photographs: inspirations ganter, niedereschach