Abstract
The Balz House is one of a group of reinforced concrete shells constructed at Stetten auf den Fildern, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, near Stuttgart. Its design follows from the explorations by Michael Balz into new forms of living, as described earlier in Chap. 2. Although it is just one of his built shells, a separate chapter is devoted to this organic architectural form as it represents an exemplar of a fully integrated family living environment, which also used construction that was highly innovative for the time (1979/80). The house also contains Michael Balz’s architectural studio. In 2017, the Balz House shell was classified as a cultural monument in the Federal State Baden-Württemberg, as it is believed to be unique in the region and is considered an exemplar of constructive optimization and an organically secure environment providing a blueprint for modern living.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Anon (1982) Haus und Gehäuse: Hausgruppe am Naturtheater Stetten auf den Fildern, Beton-Prisma 43–82. Bundesverband der Deutschen Zementindustrie, Betonverlag Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, pp 1–8
Balz M (2011) Working with Heinz Isler. J Int Assoc Shell Spat Struct 52 (3)(169):155–160
Balz M, Isler H (1968) Geborgenes Wohnen heute und morgen: neue Wohnformen—neue Baumethoden [Secure living today and tomorrow: new forms of housing—new construction methods]—pamphlet
Balz M, Seidel J (1991) Living and dwelling structures for a new century. In: Wester T, Medwadowski SJ, Mogensen I (eds) Spatial structures at the turn of the millennium. Proceedings of the international IASS symposium, vol 2. Kunstakademiets Forlag Arkitektskolen, Copenhagen, pp 19–26
Balz A, Balz J, Balz M (2020) Recorded conversation with the author, 1 May 2020
Bauen and Wohnen (2020) Außergewöhnlich wohnen im Architektenhaus | Das UFO-Haus | Wohngeschichte [Exceptional living in an architect’s house | The UFO house | Living history], 4 Oct 2020. Available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCUMNRqDvtc. Accessed 25 June 2021
Chilton J (2000) Heinz Isler: the engineer’s contribution to contemporary architecture. Thomas Telford, London, pp 130–134
Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (2017) Liste der Kulturdenkmale in Baden-Württemberg Teil A1: Begründung der Denkmaleigenschaft [List of cultural monuments in Baden-Württemberg part A1: justification of the status as a monument], 20 Jan 2017
Mehrotra A, Richardson V, Siu S (2013) Balz House. In: Evolution of German shells: efficiency in form. Available http://shells.princeton.edu/Balz.html. Accessed 1 July 2021
Ramm E, Schunk E (2002) Heinz Isler Schalen. Hochschulverlag an der ETH, Zürich
SWR Fernsehen [SWR Television] (2020) Organisches Wohnen: Futuristisches Haus in Stetten auf den Fildern [Organic living: futuristic house in Stetten auf den Fildern], 6 Mar 2020. Available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF1w8az3Jsw. Accessed 25 June 2021
SWR Fernsehen [SWR Television] (2021) Das Ufo-Haus von Stetten [The UFO house of Stetten]. Transmitted Friday, 30 Apr 2021 at 18:45, Landesschau Baden-Württemberg. Available https://www.swrfernsehen.de/landesschau-bw/das-ufo-haus-von-stetten-100.html. Accessed 25 June 2021
Szokolay SV (2004) Introduction to architectural science: the basis of sustainable design. Architectural Press, Oxford
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chilton, J. (2023). Balz House, Stetten auf den Fildern Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Near Stuttgart (1980). In: Michael Balz. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19264-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19264-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-19263-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-19264-7
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)