2_1_DiscoverGermany_December14_Issue21:Scan Magazine 1
20/11/14
14:10
Page 74
Left: Lindau Marina. Photo: Albrecht Schnabel Above: Lindau Marina. Photo: Marcus Schwier Below: Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Lindau Inselhalle, Lindau
ELWERT&STOTTELE Integrating new buildings into urban landscapes grown over centuries Working in areas with existing structures is always a challenge for architects. ELWERT&STOTTELE in Ravensburg have specialised in that field. Their motto: Every project should be for the benefit of people’s living conditions and should recognise and respect a place’s history. TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: ELWERT&STOTTELE
“Ideas are not only the base but also every project’s essence of life,”the architects Ulrich Elwert and Wolff Stottele describe their approach. The German duo founded the ELWERT&STOTTELE GbR in 1998 in Ravensburg, where Ulrich Elwert had established himself as architect since 1974. Wolff Stottele learned his skills from distinguished teachers such as Sir James Stirling in London. Today the team’s main focus lies on working in areas with evolved building structures like the projects realised in Lindau, which is a unique historic town situated on an island in Lake Constance. “Wohnen am Yachthafen” – living at the marina – combined the renovation of existing buildings, extensions and new buildings. In a multi-level competition Professor Ernst Kasper was chosen as lead architect. Kasper had been Wolff Stottele’s professor
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at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and invited him to work on the project together. When Ernst Kasper died in 2008 Wolff Stottele took over and fulfilled the idea of individual buildings that also blend into the existing historic and listed architecture. A second remarkable project that required working with existing building structures, is the Inselhalle Lindau, also located on the island. In 2007 the architects had proved in a study that it would be possible to extend the existing conference hall, location of the renowned annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. This resulted in a European-wide call for submissions. In co-operation with the Swiss architect Hubert Bischoff ELWERT&STOTTELE gained the second prize and likewise proved that engaging in current affairs architects can work for the public’s benefit without gaining anything themselves.
The architects are currently working on remodelling and extending the Hotel Bayerischer Hof which lies at the harbour promenade of the island Lindau. The family owned 5-star-hotel was established in 1854 and the architects were obligated to respect and conserve the grown structures while designing a new building to complement the hotel with an indoor swimming pool complex and some significant suites. From spring 2015 the skyline of the historic harbour with its famous lighthouse and Lionsculpture, both erected during the reign of Bavarian King Maximilian II, will be enriched with a fine restored building respecting traditional architecture. www.german-architects.com/de/elwertstottele