Seegut Zeppelin

When the wealthy textile tycoon Gustav Gminder was on the hunt for a site in Friedrichshafen-Fischbach to build his lakeside vacation villa in the 1900s, he opted for a piece of wild shoreline land with arguably the best view of Lake Constance, aka Bodensee. His historic villa now proudly sits at the heart of the eco-conscious hotel Seegut Zeppelin, appropriately named after another industrial legend, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and a nice connection back to Gminder, whose company manufactured the cloth used in the frame of the famous airships.

Facing the lake, Villa Gminder was built in 1907 by Art Nouveau architect Theodor Fischer, a vaulted neo-gothic summer villa draped in heritage. A lover and perhaps an early guardian of nature, Gminder had hundreds of trees planted, including black pines, mountain sequoia (great redwood) and silver firs. The villa was then converted into an ecclesiastical nursing and convalescent home (due to the idyllic location and setting) and remained so for 90 years. It was in 2016 that Sandra and Hendrik Fennel first took a look at the project of the villa and the grounds, setting about the creation of a hotel – not an easy task as both the landmark villa and grounds are protected – took years. This is why the hotel Seegut Zeppelin is so very conscious of its surroundings, history and impact on the natural habitat and secluded lakeside access – influencing the architecture, interiors and environmental philosophy. More than a lakeside design hotel, Seegut Zeppelin is a pioneer of healthy interiors inspired by the DNA of Lake Constance and the nature reserve.

Named after owner Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, founder of the German manufacturing company that invented the Zeppelins that once drifted over Lake Constance in the heyday of airship travel, the Seegut Zeppelin is rooted in Friedrichshafen’s rich history. 

Holistic Design – Blue Light Free

Being a mere 67 uninterrupted steps to the shore of Lake Constance, the nature reserve and the Villa Gminder were the design and concept anchor points for the Fennel family, local architects Plösser Architekten, based in Friedrichshafen and interior designer Claudia Miller of Stuttgart-based design studio Linie Zweii. Four new off-shoot standalone builds surround the villa to accommodate the guest rooms, wellness zone and restaurants, while the Gminder Villa hosts the restaurant, events and gallery space. The four houses are named after Count Zeppelin’s family: Isabella, Ferdinand, Helene and August. The newly built architecture sits in careful harmony with the restored villa without trying to mimic history. Sleek, low-rise and minimalist in design, the buildings are clad in dark wood spruce pine with a green canopy and tented roofs that tilt a nod to the villa. The design of the new additions in a wood-concrete hybrid construction is like a cut piece of tree timber, explains Plösser; the outer ring of dark bark lends to the lighter, blond wooden tones of a tree from the inside – hence the contrast of darker exteriors and bright, light and airy interiors - it follows nature. The newest engineering and energy conservation plant has been installed with geothermal energy systems and a free-cooling system that utilises fresh air to both cool and heat the spaces rather than less friendly air conditioning. Even the insects are considered in the design; protecting against light pollution, the rooms are equipped with a textile screen that lowers at dusk and on the grounds, lighting is blue-light free, which is friendly for insects. The Fennel family has also been replanting the grounds and spreading wildflower seeds to repair any interventions. A holistic approach shrouds the hotel.

Healthy Rooms of Zen

There’s an air of the ecclesiastical accent within the interiors that borrow a Zen narrative, minimalistic in style to highlight the setting in both the original villa and the new wings – materials should age well and have a style dignity, explains the designer. In the guest rooms (30-40 sqm), interior designer Claudia Miller took her palette from the outdoors: clay, gravel, lime, and the lakeside misty morning hues. Natural oak flooring, silver fir panelling, lime plaster and woollen carpets usher a mediative palette of peace and calm. The rooms are healthy by definition, void of unnatural materials, and a language of natural, sustainable materials. Swathes of linen reference the legacy of the villa and its previous owner, the textile king Gustav Gminder. Vast glazing lets the outside in, framing 100-year-old trees and profusions of greenery – a living connection. All the bedrooms have either an outdoor balcony or a terrace. Haus August and Helene come with lake vistas, and Haus Isabella and Ferdinand are saturated by garden and treeline greens. Austrian Susanne Kaufmann products made from natural ingredients from the Alps are found in the bathrooms.

Within the original Villa Gminder, Plösser Architekten and design studio Linie Zweii have triumphed in restoration, keeping the raw beauty of architecture on show that frames a modern, crisp interior with crafted furnishings from Weishäupl, Freifrau in Germany and chairs from iconic designers Horgenglarus in Switzerland, all known for their durability and timeless quality. Seegut Zeppelin’s locale, shrouded in a nature reserve, home to flora and fauna including wild birds and shrubs inform the design manifesto for the new contemporary, spruce-clad builds. In collaboration with Zweii studio, a sustainable concept was developed to pay homage to the budding nature and celebrate the peaceful position of Seegut. 

Interiors benefit from the simplicity of nature’s inspiration – tactile materials headline the design such as wood floors, silver fir cladding, wool carpets, stone tiles and lime plaster. Swathes of linen reference the legacy of the villa and its previous owner, the textile king Gustav Gminder. Vast glazing lets the outside in, framing 100-year-old trees and profusions of greenery. Inside, less is more with a stylish aesthetic that highlights carefully placed objects: furniture from Weishäupl, Freifrau in Germany and chairs from iconic designers Horgenglarus in Switzerland, all known for their durability and timeless quality. 

Slow – Who Baked the Bread?

Slow-food approach to dining heads up the Seegut Zeppelin – a destination for plant-forward dining. The Restaurant Pinus, located in the former villa, is named after the eye-catching black pines that soar overhead. Serving up an innovative vegetarian focus, which celebrates dishes that can be shared as well as home-grown produce lovingly cultivated in the greenhouse, orchards and veg beds, bringing a rainbow-hued selection to the table.

And anything else that’s needed for wholesome dining is located from the bountiful surrounds including the local baker Brot and Brüder, the organic farmer Speicher 1616 and other local friends. Seegut’s menu is proudly local and transparently clear about its provenance, so you’ll always know who baked the bread. 

Wild swimming naturally headlines wellness here and an indoor spa helps to while away time, or if you need to top up your yoga or fitness, there’s a studio on hand. 

Sandra und Hendrik Fennel had a decisive vision to bring Villa Gminder’s carefree days of the past into the now. Stylish lakeside hotel hideaway Seegut Zeppelin is a rebooted playground for nature lovers and those who like to reside in design simplicity steps from the shore of Lake Constance – ready for carefree jumps, swims, boating or simply a spot to watch the sunset with a distant silhouette of the Säntis massif.