Hanke Holztechnik & Hanke Bauforschung Portfolio of Selected Works, 1992-2014

A Note on the Portfolio:

The following chronologically arranged diagrams, texts and photographs are representative of my professional and

academic work that commenced when I undertook an apprenticeship in a joiner’s workshop. This stint, which has

happened more than 20 years ago and which lasted three years, was followed by studies at academic institutions in

Germany, Ireland and the UK, earning me a bachelor degree in Architecture from the Fachhochschule Oldenburg, as

well as postgraduate degrees in Conservation Studies and Architectural History from the University of Bamberg and

the University of Edinburgh. Since then I have been building up a body of work that, I believe, is characterised by a

profound analytical focus. It tries to marry the world of the practitioner with that of the scientist, alternating

between the drawing office, the building site, the library and the archive.

Holztechnik (Timber Technology) and Bauforschung (Building Archaeology) thus represent the two poles that define

most of my professional work during the past two decades. It is concerned with the development and application of

sophisticated spatial and technical solutions for ‘everyday’ design problems, and, on the other hand, an

archaeological approach that tries to pin down the personality and value of spatial and structural objects, be it the

fabric of extant buildings, fitments, settlements or landscapes. Background to my deep interest in the archaeology of

items is my firm belief that good architecture always has to enter into a dialog with its surrounding, thus it follows

that any designer is required to possess a sound knowledge of the quantities and qualities of space and objects.

Archaeological data-gathering helps to achieve that premise.

All of the depicted furniture was constructed in a workshop that was founded by my father some 40 years ago, and

that is being managed by me since 2009. Some of the architectural projects emerged in the context of academic

studies, others were commissioned by either private clients or architectural firms both in Germany and the UK. Most

of the academic writing was done for Kirkdale Archaeology, an Edinburgh-based archaeological firm, with which I

cooperate since 2006.

Art Gallery in Dublin, 1992 Project at the Dublin Institute of Technology, February 1992

Laubenhaus Zulawki, Polen, 1995 Laubenhaus Zulawki. Survey, historical analysis and assessment of the physical condition of a farmstead in the North of Poland, 1995

Laubenhaus Zulawki

A project on the history and evolution of a farmstead in the North of Poland

Laubenhaus Zulawki, Polen, 1995 Laubenhaus Zulawki. Survey, historical analysis and assessment of the physical condition of a farmstead in the North of Poland, 1995

Zulawki (1995)

Plan of village, scale 1:5000

Pre-1803 Pre-1945 Post-1945

Condition of house and barn pre-1945, View from North

Laubenhaus Zulawki, Polen, 1995 Laubenhaus Zulawki. Survey, historical analysis and assessment of the physical condition of a farmstead in the North of Poland, 1995

Laubenhaus Zulawki (1995)

Plan of ground floor and first floor, section, isometry, scale 1:20

Timber stair, 1997 Design and detailing by Thorsten Hanke. Making by Thorsten Hanke in collaboration with Heinrich Hanke

Analysis of a medieval church in Hohen Pritz, 1998 Dorfkirche Hohen-Pritz. Survey, historical analysis and assessment of the physical condition in collaboration with T. Herzog and C. Weber

Showroom and workshop for a motorbike and car-retailer, 1998 Autohaus Lubzyk. Feasibility study and detailed proposal

Stair at Hövenstraße 17, 33818 Leopoldshöhe, 1998 Design and making by Thorsten Hanke and Heinrich Hanke, beechwood, 14 steps, 21,8 x 24,4 cm

Conservation scheme for a listed monument, 2001 Tropfhaus Sassanfahrt. Conservation scheme for the existing dwelling house and design of an adjacent structure

Die bauhistorische Bedeutung der Sassanfahrter Tropfhäuser

Die ca. 20 km südlich von Bamberg gelegene oberfränkische Gemeinde Sassanfahrt wird

kommunalpolitisch vom Markt Hirschaid verwaltet. Sie bildet eine eigenständige

Dorfstruktur, die in vier Entwicklungsphasen im Verlauf der vergangenen 250 Jahre

entstand.

Als wesentlich für die Ortsentwicklung erwies sich die Peuplierungspolitik des Grafen Julius

v. Soden (1754-1831), durch die sich die Anzahl der Sassanfahrter Haushalte in den Jahren

zwischen 1784 und 1808 nahezu verzehnfachte.

Julius v. Soden erwarb das Rittergut Sassanfahrt 1784 und übte dort als Vertreter der

‚gutsadeligen Mittelschicht’ die Dorf- und Gemeindeherrschaft aus. Der Ort bestand zu

diesem Zeitpunkt aus „(...) zwei Hausstellen ohne landwirtschaftliche Erwerbsquellen“. Die

Peuplierungspolitik, die faktisch zur wahllosen und massenhaften Ansiedlung kaum

existenzfähiger Familien führte, wurde von Julius v. Soden philantropisch begründet. „Dem

Dürftigen, Heimathlosen, wollte er eine friedliche Hütte, Spielraum für seinen Fleiß

verschaffen, und ihn aus einem schädlichen Gliede der Gesellschaft zum arbeitsamen,

nützlichen Staatsbürger umwandeln“.

Als Standardbehausung der Sassanfahrter Neuansiedler ließ v. Soden zwischen 1791 und

1808 insgesamt 94 sogenannte Tropfhäuser errichten. Der Begriff ‚Tropfhaus’ spielt hierbei

auf die Grundstücksgröße an. Dessen Aussengrenzen wurden durch den vom Dach

hinabfallenden Wassertropfen definiert, die Tropfhäuser waren also mit keinerlei

landwirtschaftlich nutzbarem Grundbesitz ausgestattet. Es handelte sich bei diesen äußerst

bescheidenen Gebäuden um einstöckige, nicht unterkellerte, Anlagen von ca. 35 bis 50 m²

Grundfläche, auf denen sich im Parterre zwei oder drei Stuben und unter dem Dach eine

Kammer befand. Diese Gebäude waren zum Teil mit zwei oder mehr Familien belegt.

Als einzig unverändert erhalten verbliebenes Sassanfahrter Tropfhaus liegt der Denkmalwert

des Gebäudes Pfarrer-Hopfenmüller-Str. 7 in dessen Bedeutung als Dokument einer

wichtigen Phase der Ortsgeschichte und in seiner volkskundlichen Bedeutung als Beispiel für

die Lebensverhältnisse der Korbmacher, Maurer, Witwen, Glaser, Tagelöhner,

Eisenbahnwärter, Korbhändler, Musikanten und Zinnlöter, die im frühen 19. Jahrhundert

einen Großteil der Einwohnerschaft Sassanfahrts ausmachten.

Conservation scheme for a listed monument, 2001 Tropfhaus Sassanfahrt. Conservation scheme for the existing dwelling house and design of an adjacent structure

Sassanfahrt – Ortsentwicklung (Kartierung C. Reichert)

Sassanfahrt – Besitzgrößen (Kartierung C. Reichert)

Conservation scheme for a listed monument, 2001 Tropfhaus Sassanfahrt. Conservation scheme for the existing dwelling house and design of an adjacent structure

Tropfhaus Pfarrer-Hopfenmüller-Str. 7

Das Gebäude ist seit ca. 10 Jahren unbewohnt. Bedingt durch mangelnde Instandhaltung ist

die Bausubstanz in Teilbereichen derartig geschädigt, dass eine Einsturzgefährdung vorliegt.

Als wesentliche Schadensursache hat eindringende Niederschlagsfeuchtigkeit im nördlichen

Traufbereich zum Verlust von Fußpfette, Sparrenfüßen und Dachdeckung geführt. Als

unmittelbare Folge wurde die Aussenwand massiv durchfeuchtet und Frostschäden und

Salzbelastung führten zu zahlreichen, z.T. zentimeterbreiten Rissen. Das

Standsicherheitsproblem wird durch die mangelhafte Gebäudeaussteifung verschärft, da

das Gebäude nur von einer Innenwand ausgesteift wird, und da auch bei der

Holzbalkendecke nicht von einer Scheibe im statischen Sinn gesprochen werden kann.

Die vorgeschlagenen Sanierungsmaßnahmen haben daher die Sicherung des aktuellen

Zustandes zum Ziel. Da der Denkmalwert des Gebäudes sowohl in dessen unveränderter

Struktur wie auch in dessen ‚Armseligkeit’ liegt, verbietet sich ausdrücklich eine

Komfortsteigerung und die Maßnahmen werden im Sinne einer Gebäudekonservierung

durchgeführt. Es bietet sich für das Gebäude insofern eine museale Nutzung an, wobei das

Tropfhaus in seiner Raumstruktur nicht verändert wird. Die notwendigen Zusatzräume

(Heizung, Elektro, WC, Büro) werden in einem Nebengebäude untergebracht, das südlich

des Tropfhauses anstelle des bestehenden Schuppens errichtet wird.

Conservation scheme for a listed monument, 2001 Tropfhaus Sassanfahrt. Conservation scheme for the existing dwelling house and design of an adjacent structure

Gratzenhäusel Ratschings, 2002 Survey, historical analysis and photo-documentation

‘Gratzenhäusel’ Ratschings (Northern Italy, C16)

Fig. 1: S-Elevation

Fig. 2: View from SW

Fig. 3: Plan of Ground Floor with localisation of significant findings

The Development of Roof Carpentry in South East Scotland until 1647, 2005 MPhil Thesis, University of Edinburgh

A large number of historic roofs in both Continental North West Europe

and England have been subjected to historical, technical and

dendrochronological research. Knowledge on Scottish early roof carpentry,

by contrast, relies on few individual studies mainly of the most flamboyant

of Scotland’s extant historic roofs. This focus on a small number of

outstanding examples has conveyed a distorted picture of early Scottish

roof carpentry. Scotland indeed has only recently understood the

particular nature of Scottish rafter single roofs (Ruddock, 1995), and

hitherto has failed to acknowledge their actual ubiquity.

Drawing on English, French, German, Dutch, and Italian literature as well as

on extensive fieldwork, this thesis shows that pre-1647 Scotland

developed a roof carpentry distinctively different from that of

contemporary North West Europe. It argues that this native style reflects

the individuality of Scotland’s historic architecture and is responding in a

logical way to the structural problems posed by this buildings. This thesis

not only offers a view on the highlights of Scottish roof carpentry, but also

discusses relatively humble features. Rather than delving into isolated case

studies, it draws a comprehensive picture depicting the general

development of roof carpentry in feudal Scotland up to 1647. The study is

divided into four parts. The first of these describes and analyses the

prevalent currents of medieval roof carpentry in Scotland, England and

Continental North West Europe. This sketch is followed by a discussion of

the structural problems Scotland’s wrights had to solve, as well as by a

consideration of the cultural issues of the time. The study further analyses

the availability of material and knowledge, and discusses how this has

effected the development of Scotland’s roof architecture. A systematically

compiled catalogue finally lists all features belonging to the period under

consideration and provides a framework for further research.

Design and making of a bookshelf, 2006 Plywood, 3 x 0,8 cm; 1 x 0,8 cm; red

Contributions to Archaeological Research at Stirling Palace, Scotland, 2007-2010 Archaeological research in the context of the restoration of Stirling Palace

Aspects of Timber in Renaissance- and Post-Renaissance Scotland, 2007-2010, published 2010

An essay that discusses the extant roofs, ceilings and doors at Stirling Palace in its technical and historical context. The research, which feeds into an online-

publication by Historic Scotland on the restoration of Stirling Palace, was commissioned by Kirkdale Archaeology, Edinburgh.

The Construction of the Ceilings over the Royal Bedchambers at Stirling Palace, 2010, published 2010

This project, which was commissioned by Kirkdale Archaeology and published by Historic Scotland, offers a model as to the likely construction of the ceilings

over the King’s and Queen’s Bedchambers at Stirling Palace, suggesting the application of suspended structures.

Stirling Palace, U20, 2009

This short analytical text elaborates on the function of a relieving arch in room U20 at Stirling Palace. The project was done for Kirkdale Archaeology and

remains unpublished.

Stirling Palace, V21, 2010

This short analytical text explains the function of a shaft in room V21 at Stirling Palace. The project was commissioned by Kirkdale Archaeology and remains

unpublished.

Stirling Palace, King’s and Queen’s Bedchambers, conjectural reconstruction of the making of the ceiling

Post-medieval roof structure at Newark Castle, 2007 Survey and assessment of the roof over the north range at Newark Castle, Scotland

Extension of a warehouse in Leopoldshöhe, Germany, 2007 Design, calling for tenders and supervision of construction

Timber Architecture in Europe and Japan: a comparative analysis, 2007 A proposal for the Canon Foundation in Europe Fellowships by Thorsten Hanke, MPhil

Misawa House (Nagano Prefecture, mid-C19) and ‘Gratzenhäusel’ Ratschings (Northern Italy, C16)

Nikolaus Pevsner in his Outline of European Architecture once famously insisted that “(…) a bicycle shed is a building but

Lincoln Cathedral is a piece of architecture”. This sentence suggests that it is highly questionable to explain the shape of

buildings – and thus also of its components – exclusively on the basis of utilitarian considerations. Architectural

elements bear in many cases an artistic quality that goes beyond mere functional requirements, a fact that has marked

the creation of artefacts since the times of the cave-painters of Lascaux. Unlike other art disciplines, such as painting,

sculpture and music, architecture combines a firm desire of embellishment with the necessity to cope with the forces of

gravity and nature. This multidimensional nature of architecture forms the basis of the proposed research project.

This 4-month project is intended to compare historic timber architecture in North Europe and Japan through the

observation of historic roof structures. Roofs are architectural elements that most obviously combine complex structural,

functional and aesthetic requirements. They not only function as a protection against rain, snow and wind, but also

often enhance the structural rigidity of the building and embody the artistic ambitions of patrons and designers. Not

surprisingly, the wide field of roof architecture has led to significantly different solutions in Europe and East Asia. While

pre-modern European architecture generally refrained from the “expressionistic” interpretation of the roof as a

sculpture, did the architecture of East Asian roofs in many cases markedly determine the external appearance of

pagodas, shrines and temples. China, Japan and Korea have established their own architectural languages distinctively

different from that of Europe, a point which requires further consideration in terms of the functional, natural and cultural

implications on architectural design in the respective regions.

I intend to make sound architectural surveys in the Kansai (e.g. Kyoto and Nara) and Chubu (e.g. Gifu) regions, by

applying the methodology of historical building research – a combination of accurate survey, written and photographic

documentation and thorough archival research – so as to depict and analyse the original roofs of important Japanese

buildings. Surveying selected roofs on a 1:25 and 1:10 scale, the project will not confine itself to a small-scale typological

catalogue, but will also offer a collection and classification of construction details. As a result, the project will create a

stock of primary data, which will provide the basis for further discussion. In a second step, it attempts to make a detailed

comparison of selected aspects of Japanese and North European timber architecture. My previous research experience

on historic roof carpentry of Germany, Scotland, Poland and North Italy would be useful for the enrichment of my

Japanese project.

The proposed project will be undertaken at the Institute for Art Anthropology, Tama Art University, under the

supervision of Professor Mayumi Tsuruoka, a pioneer in the field of interdisciplinary research in art and architecture in

Japan. This academic environment is essential to cultivate my knowledge of Japanese art and culture, as well as to

exchange ideas with leading scholars in Tokyo before and after fieldwork on site. By looking at particular features in

Japanese roof architecture, this project is intended to observe the similarities and differences in Europe and Japan. Thus

it offers an excellent opportunity to understand the natural and material causes that always form the basis for cultural

and artistic interpretations of architectural elements.

It is hoped that, with the generous support of the Canon Foundation in Europe and the host institution in Japan, this

project will achieve successful results and promote a mutual understanding of art and culture in Europe and Japan.

Stair at ‘Brauerei Berliner Bürgerbräu‘, Berlin-Friedrichshain, 2011 For: Büro für analytische Baukonservatorik, Kollwitzstraße 12, 10405 Berlin

Dining Table, 2012 A dining table for Hans-Jörg and Sabine Hartmann, Lage-Heiden, Germany

Tantallon Castle, 2012 Survey, historical analysis and photo-documentation

Plan and Cross-Sections of the Midtower at Tantallon Castle

Bed, 2014 A bed for Ruxandra and Eugene Stoica, Edinburgh, Scotland

Contact:

Thorsten Hanke

38/3 Shore Road

South Queensferry, EH30 9SG

UK

0131 331 5117

thorsten.hanke@gmail.com

http://hankebauforschung.wordpress.com/about/