Augsburg: Haus Buchegger

1907

Architects: Sebastian Buchegger, Heinrich Sturzenegger

Thelottstraße 11, Augsburg

The former home of architect Sebastian Buchegger is located in Augsburg’s Thelottviertel neighborhood.

Thelottviertel

Built between 1907 and 1929 according to Buchegger’s plans, Thelottviertel is considered one of the first garden cities in Germany, as well as a significant contribution to reform architecture.

The term “garden city” was coined by British urban planner Ebenezer Howard, who primarily pursued social reformist ideas with his concept.

Impressed by the lack of small, contemporary apartments in Augsburg, Buchegger developed the area between the main train station and the Wertach River at his own expense.

Single-Family House Colony

A colony of single-family houses was built on drained floodplain land. The houses have spacious front and main gardens, as well as landscaped courtyard areas.

The residential buildings located close to the center were required to be practical, attractive, and reasonably priced.

From 1907 to 1929, 106 single-family houses were built, most of which were constructed in rows. Additionally, 76 apartment and commercial buildings were constructed.

Urban Planning Concept

The Buchegger single-family housing development was designed with a network of carefully planned paths and varied arrangements of residential buildings, some standing alone and others grouped into small clusters.

Contemporary critics recognized this concept as exemplary.

Heinrich Sturzenegger, the architect, worked at Sebastian Buchegger’s architecture and construction firm in Augsburg from 1906 to 1914.

Haus Buchegger

The two-story former Buchegger residence, with its projecting tent roof and bay-like extension, is situated on a slope. This allows the basement to open onto the large former kitchen garden.

A representative entrance area leads to the wood-paneled business office where Sebastian Buchegger received tenants and buyers of houses and apartments in his garden city, built starting in 1907.

The private rooms were connected to the business office and accessible via an entrance on the other side of the house.

The first floor also contained a kitchen with a pantry and several living rooms.

A central staircase with two attached bathrooms leads to the second floor, which has additional living rooms and a bathroom, as well as an attic.

Former Architecture Museum of Swabia

The Buchegg Villa housed the museum until 2019. The museum was dedicated to researching, documenting, and communicating the architectural history of Swabia.

However, after long-standing differences arose between the museum’s governing body, the Architekturmuseum der TU München, and its sponsor, the Arno Buchegger Foundation, the TU Munich terminated the contract with the foundation. The university intends to initiate a new start with a new concept for the museum.

Planned Extension

The Arno Buchegger Foundation‘s newly announced center is gradually taking shape.

Frankfurt-based architect Christoph Mäckler’s design for an extension to Haus Buchegger is currently undergoing the building permit approval process (preliminary building application).

In collaboration with a sponsoring association, a board of trustees, partner organizations, and a coordination and organizational office, the center intends to become an educational and research facility hosting interdisciplinary exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and presentations.

Possible thematic focuses include architecture, visual arts, and literature.