Shminke House Case Study

The Schminke House project is an architectural project begun in 1930 and completed in 1933 under the supervision of the architect Hans Scharoun. This house, constructed initially for a six-headed family, has become one of the most important buildings of the 20th century. Very early it was perceived as a historical piece of architecture and was lastly placed under memorial protection in 1978. Hans Scharoun’s project is recognized in the same circle “as The Villa Tugendhat by Mies van der Rohe […] (1931), The Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier […] (1928 - 1929) and The House Kaufmann, Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright, […] (1935 – 1939)” , being a part of styles known as New architecture and International style. The house was in fact customized to

Special care was taken to regulate the amount of heat generated in this house from the sun. This was done through the use of wooden rolling shutters which can be closed or opened to control the light entering the house.” The architecture of the Haus Schminke can be described as "dynamic architecture” , this means that the addition of sliding walls, combined with the doors and curtains allow the space to change flexibly to meet the needs at any moment of the owners. It seems that the main living area is at ground level, with major open spaces, the kitchen and a conservatory. Up a floor, the feeling seems much more enclosed, private and basic. All bedrooms are located on this floor. All floors are fitted with large terraces accessible by floor to ceiling sliding glass doors from the inside, and steel stairs from the outside. This last feature comes from the architect’s

He is therefore one of the most representative of Organic Architecture, associating building and its surrounding territory carefully. According to this theory, “the character of an organ is attributed to a building ”; in other terms, spaces are to be designed following their functions in a building. This can be achieved by designing after user’s habits and ways of life. A close relationship between the human and the building are fundamental to Scharoun and his understanding of the theory, and this is the way Scharoun processed in the designing of the Schminke house. Effectively, the architect and the Schminke family collaborated closely in order to adapt the building best to the needs of the family. The married couple first found out of Hans Scharoun through their knowledge of previous work accomplished by the architect seen in exhibitions and visits. The family had a precise vision of the space, building and property they desired to live in but also went along with the architect’s ideas. Fritz Schminke required"[...] a modern house for two parents, four children and one or two occasional guests; since the main piece of the garden was to the north of the scheduled building site, this viewing direction should keep free but living rooms should also have southern sunlight as well; […] convenient floorings, easy to clean bathrooms, sleeping rooms and washing rooms […];