Business & Public
Hölderlin Tower
Walkable poetry in the permanent exhibition at the Hölderlinturm in Tübingen
Friedrich Hölderlin (1770–1843) is regarded as one of the most important literary figures of his time: his poems on humanity and nature are widely quoted and continue to inspire creative works today. For around half of his life, the poet lived in that tower in Tübingen that now bears his name, where he was kindly taken in and cared for by the Zimmer family of joiners until his death.
For the extensive refurbishment, the planners opted for plenty of wood, including for the floor. Villapark long planks were chosen, and with their generous format they create a calm base that allows the exhibits to stand out.
The museum is not only dedicated to Hölderlin’s life in the tower from 1807 onwards, but also answers the question of how symbolic places of remembrance can become modern places of encounter: working to the highest heritage conservation standards, COAST restored the structure, whose history can be traced back to the 13th century, carefully revealed its individual layers of time in places, and made the building legible as a walkable exhibit.
That tactile perception plays a central role is evident not only in the tactile use of the shingles, but also in the overall approach to wood. As the architect goes on to say: “It was important to us that oak as a material can be felt as a connecting element throughout the entire museum. Through constant touch, attention is trained and language is linked to the natural material.” Accordingly, the Bauwerk Parkett floor, newly installed across 185 square metres, was to be kept in a uniform oak tone. “The colour Oak Farina harmonises with the tone of the wooden shingles. The brushed parquet surface is not only visually appealing but also tactile, and is not compromised by the innovative B-Protect® sealing. On the contrary: the floor remains hard-wearing, easy to care for and UV-stable, while still allowing this unique natural character to shine through.”
Location | Tübingen (DE) |
Architecture | COAST Office Architecture |
Client | Universitätsstadt Tübingen |
Installation | Christoph Skaletzka Parkett Fussbodentechnik |
Parquet | Villapark, Oak Farina |
Images | David Franck Photographie |
