Leubinger Fürstenhügel is one of Thuringia’s most important archaeological monuments. Located next to a central highway, the burial mound dates back to the Early Bronze Age and is considered to be the largest and most well-preserved of its kind. In proximity to the archaeological find, an unusual project, the Leubinger Fürstenhügel service station, links architecture, landscape and history. Part of the holistic concept was not only the careful emplacement of the structure within the historically significant surroundings, but also the integration of an exhibition and an educational path.
Both the building and landscape contribute to a calm and restrained aesthetic, so travelers can experience an atmosphere of peace and rest. The architecture also discreetly remains in the background, so that the Fürstenhügel can take center stage as the site’s protagonist. Visitors are encouraged to linger, enjoy the views of the surrounding area or learn more about the history of the region. The educational trail connects architecture and landscape as it leads the way from the building to the burial mound. Staged as a timeline, the path takes the visitor back in time through historical events, archaeological finds and the construction of the tomb, concluding with the burial mound itself, surrounded by a circular path structure. Another special feature is a landscape terrace which offers an experience of the emerging vegetation as well as a panoramic view of the facility and its surroundings.
The building itself was designed as an elongated angle consisting of two wings that smoothly blend into the gently undulating landscape. Another archaeological find in a nearby community – a longhouse also dating from the Bronze Age – served as a key source of inspiration. The closed volume accommodates all functional components of the service area as well as the exhibition space, while the second wing, oriented orthogonally to the roadway, stretches over the refueling facility. The entrance to the site is thus marked by a large, column-free roof that frames the first view of the burial mound.
The building itself, with a guest area that was modeled according to the form of the longhouse, offers a direct visual reference to the mound via a generous glass façade at the front of the structure. The connecting element of the two parts is the roof, which is folded several times and rises slowly to the ridge line of the longhouse. A plain aluminum skin was used for the exterior, emphasizing the structure’s overall calm impression. Its irregular angles also create a delicate vertical structure with a discreet play of shadows.
On the north side, the glass façade is shifted to the rear, creating a covered arcade that guides travelers to the two main entrances. From here, visitors enter the exhibition space, which serves as both a foyer and a distribution room. The guest area is divided into different zones by a centrally placed gallery, under which an open kitchen is located. The walls and ceilings, which are covered with solid wood, create a warm and friendly atmosphere. The light-colored stone flooring connects all facilities and creates a design reference to the forecourt, the covered arcade as well as the nature trail, which were executed in in-situ concrete.
