There's no such thing as can't - that's the motto of artist, inventor and tinkerer Hermann. In an old farmhouse in Hunsrück, he has created a unique paradise for himself. Full of unusual living ideas.
When Hermann bought the old farmhouse from 1880 in the small Hunsrück village of Schwall, he fulfilled his dream: a home on the edge of town with plenty of space to realize his creative visions - to create his own paradise.
Twelve years have passed since then, and in the meantime he has designed seven rooms. None is like the other and everywhere there are things that amaze his visitors. For example, he built a shelf out of the old cast-iron bathtub that was still in the house. To recess it into the wall required a lot of muscle power and good ideas. Hermann made templates and had a glazier make the shelves, all with a hole about six inches on one side so his ivy could grow from the bottom shelf to the top.
That's what Herrmann enjoys: no matter what idea pops into his head, he implements it - and for every problem he finds a solution. With a lot of creativity and craftsmanship. Hermann is a jack-of-all-trades. "I have four right hands," he says proudly. He is an artist, inventor, trained gardener and construction energy technician. In addition, he is also the local mayor of Schwall.
His most elaborate project to date was the construction of his workshop, where most of his furnishings and works of art are created today.
Typical for him: He uses many mirrors. Often only fragments. In his bedroom, Hermann had to experiment for a particularly long time, because he got it into his head that he could see a single candle seven times from the bed, just by hanging the mirrors correctly. He managed to do that, too.
He always has something to do. No matter how impossible an idea may seem at first, Hermann finds a way. In doing so, he works with a wide variety of materials: whether metal, wood or stone - Hermann dares to tackle any craft. True to the motto: Do it yourself.
Since Herrmann grew up in a family of gardeners, he developed a great affinity for nature at an early age. He learned the gardening profession at the Maria Laach monastery. There he had his first contacts with artists. He was particularly fascinated by sculpture. He also learned the art of flower arranging Ikebana. His versatility is also reflected in his design and makes a visit to his home a journey of discovery.
During his walks in the forest, Hermann is always on the lookout for special branches - the more branched, the more exciting for him. He is particularly fond of twigs. This is the name given to trunks that consist of two arms of equal strength. He then does everything he can to acquire this piece of nature and integrate it into his house, even if it means using a crane. A Zwiesel as a door frame - he managed that, too.
In Hermann's house, one discovers a number of things that tell the story of his life. The refrigerator door is decorated with many small car tires - they remind us of the time when he was passionate about driving rallies. The huge cherries in his bathroom recall his childhood on the Rhine "I always looked forward to the cherry harvest especially, most of them ended up in my belly." Creating such memory moments is part of his living concept.
Wind instruments are symbols of harmony for him. Tuba, trumpet, trombone - at flea markets he looks for disused instruments, but he also asks manufacturers for old pieces. From these he makes coat hooks and lamps, for example.
Hermann's house is well stocked and he is happy with it all around. But when a new idea pops into his head, which never actually stands still, or he discovers an exciting object - then he redesigns. Hermann's principle: "I think you also have to be able to let go so that something new can emerge."
A film by: Anne Lambertsen (editing), Stefanie Vier (camera), Yannik Gaul (sound) and Florian Felix Klein (editing).
00:00 In the house of impossible ideas
00:28 Dining room
02:42 Workshop
04:58 Garden
06:25 1st floor
07:14 Living room
08:10 Bedroom
09:12 Bathroom
14 авг 2024
