Hof Giesecke (heute Stolte)

Im Unteren Dorfe 2 (Stolte Family Estate, formerly Giesecke)

At Im Unteren Dorfe 2 stands an impressive historic farmstead, distinguished by its cohesive group of buildings arranged around a rectangular courtyard. To the west lies the residential house dating from 1911, while the surrounding agricultural buildings—stable, barn, remise, and connecting structures—mostly originate from the mid to late 19th century. Together, they form a well-preserved example of rural architecture from that period.

The property is what is known as a “Rübenburg” — a term used to describe particularly grand farmhouses financed by the proceeds of a successful sugar beet campaign. The economic success of sugar beet cultivation enabled farmers to design their estates not only with functional considerations but also with a certain architectural ambition. Thus, the stately residential house of this complex arose as an expression of the newfound confidence of the rural bourgeoisie in the early twentieth century.

The two-storey residence rises on a high plinth of rubble masonry and is covered by a mansard-hipped roof with tile cladding. Notable features include a polygonal bay window on the south side and a slightly projecting central risalit on the east. Both the upper and attic floors exhibit timber-framed construction with partially coupled posts, curved braces, and fan-shaped rosettes—details which give the building a charming, artisanal character. Typical Art Nouveau windows with grid-like transoms and large, shallow-arched windows with small-paned transoms facing the street characterise the façade.

The courtyard enclosure to the south and west consists of a high base of polygonal masonry with tapering pillars and gently curved wooden slat fences between them. This encloses not only the front garden but also emphasises the representative nature of the entire estate.

A two-storey connecting structure of brick and timber framing links the residence to the elongated stable building. The stable itself has a solidly built brick ground floor, while the upper floor is timber-framed with brick infill. Facing the courtyard, a two-storey loading bay above the passageway marks the functional centre of the economic area.

To the east of the courtyard stands the gable-ended barn— a single-storey timber-framed building on a high base of sandstone blocks. The central longitudinal entrance, robust diagonal bracing, and an inscription on the southern gate beam testify to the craftsmanship and self-assurance of its builders.

The ensemble is completed by a two-storey remise on the street side, with a brick-built ground floor and a timber-framed upper storey. Two large gateway doors open the building towards the street, clearly indicating its former use to house agricultural vehicles and equipment.

The farmstead at Im Unteren Dorfe 2 exemplifies rural prosperity at the beginning of the twentieth century. It combines functionality with regionally characteristic construction methods and the pride of a successful agricultural enterprise—funded by the fertility of the fields and the yield of sugar beets.