Holiday home Haus Schminke

Occa­sio­nally an idea has to wait a very long time to become reality – and in that time it undergoes a dra­matic trans­for­mation. In the case of Haus Schminke on Kirsch­allee in Löbau, the wait lasted almost two decades – it had to survive the First World War, hyper­in­flation and the Great Depression. But at last, all turned out well, for here stands – instead of a villa in the French country house style – one of the most signi­ficant icons of Clas­sical Modernism. And one that can even accom­modate up to 12 people.

Hans Scharoun designed the house in 1933 for Fritz Schminke, his wife and four children. Schminke owned a pasta factory on the out­skirts of Löbau. He com­mis­sioned a house – and received an icon with an unusual pre­cision for the life that was to take place within it. Scharoun believed that rooms should, first and foremost, serve life, not merely represent it.

The Schminke House does not follow a sym­me­trical logic, but rather the rhythm of everyday life – movement, lin­gering, retreat. Scharoun had taken the family’s four children into account just as much as the adults. But few people realise that the client himself must have been secretly delighted: Fritz Schminke had ori­gi­nally wanted to become a naval architect. Instead, he became a mac­aroni and spi­relli manu­fac­turer – he had taken over the company from his father. The architect designed a house for him that reveals Scharoun’s distinct sense of the nau­tical. It was undoub­tedly con­ceived in Bre­mer­haven, when little Hans looked out of the window – at the shi­pyards on the Geeste. Just how much this influenced him can still be seen today in Löbau: the house glides into the English-style garden like a ship. The balcony is remi­niscent of a bridge, and port­holes in the patio doors – at child height, with coloured glass – com­plete the picture. No wonder that Haus Schminke is still known today as the ‘pasta steamer’.

And despite all the power that lies within this house: when the family moved in in 1933, the building con­veyed a sense of lightness that seemed almost uni­ma­gi­nable at the time. All the living spaces face south and open out onto the park. Large glass sur­faces connect the interior and exterior without breaking up the rooms. The interior design is as purist today as it was then; nothing detracts from the impact of the archi­tecture.

The house was listed as a his­toric monument in 1978. The fact that it can be visited and lived in today is down to an extra­or­dinary gesture: in 1993, Fritz and Char­lotte Schminke’s three daughters waived their right to reclaim their family home – on con­dition that it remained open to the public. In 2009, the Haus Schminke Foun­dation, estab­lished spe­ci­fi­cally for this purpose, took over its management. Scharoun himself called it his favourite house. The Foun­dation ensures that people still under­stand today why.

Note: Over­night accom­mo­dation for one or more nights is pos­sible from Thursday to Sunday.

Photos: Ralf Ganter

What to do

If you’d like, you can book a private guided tour of the house alongside your overnight stay – or simply explore at your own pace with an audio guide. From Löbau, it’s just a stone’s throw to Görlitz, Zittau and the Czech and Polish borders. Hiking, cycling and exploring the area’s rich cultural heritage are all part of the experience here.

Why we like this house

Because there’s no other one like this.

This house is great for

For anyone seeking a place to chat and meet people. And for anyone wondering what it feels like to spend the night in an icon of modernism.

Sustainability

The house is accessible by public transport, and you don’t necessarily need a car once you’re there.

Details

Request/Booking