2_1_DiscoverGermany_March2014_Issue12:Scan Magazine 1
14/2/14
16:42
Page 88
Discover Germany | Special Theme | Creative Germany 2014
Main image: Pavilion villa in Bavaria, southern aspect. Photo: Werner Huthmacher Above: Pavilion villa in Bavaria, salon foyer. Photo: Roland Halbe
Modern architecture inspired by the principles of Italian Renaissance Weber + Hummel turn clients into friends with their two decades of experience and the philosophical approach they bring to their work. TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: WEBER+HUMMEL
Useful, durable and beautiful: the three primarily principles that guided the famous 16th century Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio when creating his magnificent architecture that still inspires people today. These principles are also the guidelines for the work of his spiritual successors Weber + Hummel, architects in Stuttgart, southern Germany. “We are not interested in 'architectural fireworks' or short-lived gags,” explains Günter Weber, one of the two partners of the architecture firm. “Besides the place and the function, which are decisive factors for our design, especially important to our work is also the correlation between inside and outside and the rooms' choreography.” Founded in 1991 by Günter Weber and Joachim Hummel, the architecture firm sees itself as an “architecture manufacturer” offering a broad spectrum of services within a holistic approach to the planning and build-
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ing process, taking pride in completing each project by “handing over the house keys.” Weber + Hummel has experience in working on projects in different areas such as living, health, the catering and retail industry, banks and insurance buildings, as well as public buildings. “We have grown very fond of a lot of our projects over the years,” explains Günter,“and we are happy to have made friends with some of our former clients and now visit their homes - which we helped plan and build - as guests.”
One particular project Weber + Hummel are very proud of is the pavilion villa in Bavaria. “We were able to accompany the project from the initial draft up to the interior design and were thus able implement our ideas of a holistic planning process.” While Weber + Hummel mainly work in southern Germany, it looks as if Palladio's principles may be brought as far as the Indian Ocean. Last year, Weber + Hummel received an inquiry about the planning of a villa on the island of La Réunion and would be very excited if this project came about. www.weber-hummel.de Below, left: Residential project. Leben auf der Donauinsel, Neu-Ulm. Below, right: Villa in the Saarland, northern aspect.