There are still numerous Umgebinde houses, which give the Oberlausitz, North Bohemia and Lower Silesia its character. These form a closed area of a unique folksy architecture in the middle of Europe. These Umgebinde houses are at the same time also testimony for the down-to-earthiness of the people and the ties with their home country.
But a decline from ca. 15.000 houses inside of 100 years shows clearly how important it is to preserve the still existing buildings. Nowhere else is there such a wealth of still existing buildings with such a character.
The area of Löbau and Zittau form the icing on the cake of the still existing Umgebinde houses. These count apart from the also existing half-timbered houses in the Oberlausitz as one of the most important and prettiest buildings of wooden architecture.
History and development
Roughly 900 years ago Germans, Czechs and Sorbs settled in the Oberlausitz and Roma settled in North Bohemia. The textile and glass production as well as agriculture were the dominate economy branches.
The block building style was a characteristic of the Slaws. The east expansion started in the 10th century and the Germanic tribes (Thurniger, Franks and Flemings) settled on the land. There houses were in half-timbered style constructed.
The Umgebinde house is a development from the two building styles. This way one could use the advantages of the half-timbered and block-style architecture. Later, the constructions were built as solid parts in the stable and hall area, as these started to rot very easily due to damp. The building style didn't change over the years. Even though people adapted the style to suit their demands a clear development to other forms or structures cannot be detected.
This architecture was first mentioned in the 16th century (1580), and was also documented. The main heydays of house buildings ranges from the 17th to the 19th century. The still existing houses stem from the late 18th and early 19th century. The "Reiterhaus" in Neusalza-Spremberg is a very old preserved Umgebinde house. The term "Umgebinde house' originated only in the 19th century when the theme was scientifically captured by professionals. They were called originally "Bundwerkhäusl".
Styles and Usage of Umgebinde houses
The Umgebinde houses were, as the diversity already shows, used of the most diverse ways. But a clear basic principle can be recognised.
The ground floor was separated into parlour, hall and stable. Depending on the space needed and funds available by the building owner an upper floor was also constructed.
The stable was used as accommodation for the animals and for storage. Its size depended on the needs of its inhabitants.
The hall covered the whole house. When space became too crowded storage and stable were relocated to outbuildings.
The parlour was first and foremost used for the looms and for living as it was the only room in the house that could be heated.
"Pure" Weaver Houses
"Pure" weaver houses usually had very small layouts of 6 x 10 m and hardly ever had a second floor. The stable was mostly again separated into stable and small chamber. The attic was used for storage and so there was no need for a barn.
Smallholder and Weaver Houses
Smallholder and weaver houses present the typically division of parlour, hall and stable, whereby the stable had a chamber at the end that could be reached via the hall. The stable was used for keeping livestock. If it wasn't worth building a separate barn a fourth zone was added on.
Farmhouses
Farmhouses were used in the same way as the smallholder houses. But they had a second storey whose chambers had different uses and a barn for storage. But it sometimes happened that the barn and the stable were built as outbuildings. This way the three-side farm came about.
Faktoren Houses
The areas in the Faktoren houses were often several times subdivided. They had a show room for the sale of their wares, different working rooms and a separate kitchen. The stable zone was usually converted to storage room. The Umgebinde zone of the Faktoren houses was always smaller and had in parts often only 20 % of the total area. These always had a second storey. Here as well were the storage rooms housed in the outbuildings. This way two or four sided farm emerged.
Houses with in-house Craft Enterprises
In houses with in-house craft enterprises lived mostly cobblers, bakers, carpenter and similar. The layout of the rooms was designed to cater for the different needs.
Foreign crafts people and day labourer only needed accommodation and one didn't need a lot of space for craft and animals.
In the double parlour house, the stable area was built as block chamber due to the increased need to create space for weaving. This form of Umgebinde house was also used even though there was farming was not done. Here the Umgebinde was arranged around the house.
Watermills and forges were constructed with considerable changes from the basic type.
The usage of the Umgebinde houses was again and again subject to economical and social changes.
With the increasing shifting of weaving mills to factories and the decrease of agricultural productions, the original intended usage of the Umgebinde-house was not needed anymore. Former weaving mills and farmhouses became now residences. Modern sanitary facilities, the electrification as well as heating and the developement of the second storey as heated living space are certain points, which make a redevelopment of Umgebinde houses today necessary. Today Umgebinde houses are also used as guesthouses, inns, shops, craft enterprises, museums and other cultural, industrial and social facilities.
Protection of historical buildings and monuments
The majority of today's still existing Umgebinde houses are already listed. This is an important aspect during the modernising and redevelopment of Umgebinde houses.
Requirements by the monumental protection result not only in the external appearance of the building but link usually a compatible usage with maintenance and business. This concerns especially the preservation of the layout, the individual rooms and the whole appearance of the building also in its surroundings in historical village centres, streets or places.
Every listed Umgebinde house represents a feature, which commands special attention. This is meant to be only a little insight into the protection of historical buildings and monuments as the law changes often and require competent partner for these complicated legal matters.
Events around the Umgebinde House
Since 2005 takes the "Tag des offenen Umgebindehauses' (Umgebinde house open day) place combined with local guided tours, crafts, open houses and a exhibition at the Zittau / Görlitz. Numerous visitors enjoy these events every year. Why don't you come and visit the Umgebinde houses whose owner from the Zittauer Mountain Range and its foreland, at the Oberlausitz Highlands, at the Hinteren Sächsischen Schweiz as well as the neighbouring Polish and Czech regions?
In the Oberlausitz many carpenters' workshops and joineries have specialised, in collaboration with renowned architects, in reconstruction and preservation as well as the complete new construction of Umgebinde houses.
Tischlerei Achtert Sohland / Wehrsdorf
Zimmereibetrieb Klippel Beiersdorf
DIETRICH + PARTNER architekten ingenieure Wilthen
Heinze und Co. Gmb Zittau
Deutschland
