Beyond Convention
A versatile seminar house designed for innovation
"Ideas are the key to a better future for all of us," says the founder, an experienced restaurateur. She poses a pointed question: "But where, amid the relentless pace of modern offices and workplaces, is there room to develop new ideas?" With HAAUS, her vision is to create a haven where creative minds and innovators can think freely, beyond conventional constraints. Opened in June 2021, this distinctive seminar house functions simultaneously as a conference facility, think tank, event space, co-working hub, and boutique hotel.
Built on the grounds of a historic farmhouse in the serene Rems-Murr district, HAAUS presented a design challenge: construct thoughtfully and cost-consciously without compromising on quality. Architects Anna Wöllhaf and Christoph Brösamle of Studio Ö began by exploring the potential of renovating the original building. Ultimately, they channeled those insights into a timeless, robust new structure – a pitched-roof farmhouse typology divided into residential and utility wings across two levels. The residential wing houses 16 guest rooms with views of the surrounding landscape, furnished minimally in wood to create an inviting connection to nature. Each room includes a bathroom with shower and WC; one is wheelchair accessible. The utility wing, or "tenne," is a flexible double-height space stretching from street to garden with a mezzanine reaching to the eaves – a contemporary interpretation of traditional barn design. Beyond its role as a seminar room, it serves as kitchen, dining, and gathering space. This union of natural surroundings and architectural flexibility opens endless possibilities: cooking workshops, forest walks, yoga retreats, and beyond. The program's potential is nearly limitless.
Photography:
Sebastian Schels
schels.net
(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|23)