Refuge Uckermark

After more than ten years of intensive, ecologically sensitive construction activity, the two buildings have been rebuilt from the inside. It was a matter of leaving the former agricultural buildings in their basic structure and yet creating something completely new, respectfully dealing with what had been handed down. Thus, the eight vacation apartments and the enchanting atrium of the estate are used either as a seminar house or as a vacation home.

It was a risk to build the refuge in the less touristically developed part of the Uckermark. That it ultimately worked out was helped by the decades of seminar experience of the refuge’s founder, Dr. Grigori Katsakoulis. With his Berlin-based company Dialogos, which is active in human resources development and coaching, he was able to bring experience to what participants need in terms of a good working environment on the one hand, and on the other hand, as a native of Greece, he had the dream of doing something completely different. The many terraces at ground level, the Mediterranean architectural principle of an atrium house as found on some Greek islands such as Rhodes or in the traditional houses of Morocco, allow an almost Mediterranean lifestyle. It presents itself, of course, especially with the summer uckermark sun, which already celebrated the homeland poet Ehm Welk.

The operators want to offer their guests an ambience that unites supposedly contradictory things: the luxury and the simple in a scenic environment without lavish hotel operations, without a multitude of other guests with luxurious room furnishings of their own terraces and balconies, plenty of space and light everywhere, a building biologically appealing design, free spaces of the soul dangle or develop intensively in seminars.

Many guests notice the special indoor climate. The humidity is very pleasant. The clay on the walls and in the floors regulates them very beneficial. The heat of the radiators has a high proportion of radiation, like a tiled stove. The rooms have a lot of light. Nevertheless, the windows are warm, because triple glazed. There are no carpets, as is common in hotels. As a result, there are no chemical vapors that we perceive as background odors.

Old Wilhelminian style furniture was used for furnishing. Even in the modern kitchens with corpi made of pressboard, attention was paid to fronts made of real wood. Over 40 tons of clay were used, in the false ceilings, in the clay plaster. The floors are all designed with natural materials. In keeping with the former agricultural building, floorboards were used. The large seminar room has been given an oak parquet floor. All floors are oiled, not sealed with varnish. This requires more maintenance, but is noticeable in the indoor climate. The walls were painted with clay paints. This keeps them open to diffusion. Thermal insulation inside was made with hemp and grain fill in the floors. A solar thermal system and the stoves ideally complement a gas condensing boiler. The radiators are low temperature radiators. This results in better heat utilization with a high level of comfortable radiation. The windows are made in triple glazing.

Rental bicycles are available for guests. The owner drives a gas car, which is also used for transporting guests when needed. The catering at seminars is as far as possible with organic and regional products.

Our object is climate friendly because we are

• have renovated with renewable raw materials and building biologically harmless materials such as loam, hemp, wood
• have triple glazed windows installed
• Partially generate heat yourself through solar energy and wood from the region
• have designed the garden close to nature: many woody plants have established themselves, part of the meadow is rarely mowed, there are hiding places for animals
• Collect rainwater and use it for irrigation in the garden
• have installed a biological treatment plant for wastewater treatment
• offer rental bikes to our guests
• Offer seminar catering with regional and/or organic products