Beauty as Sustainability: A New Film Showcases the Transformation of a Historic Villa into an Architectural Atelier

Built in 1908 by architect Alfred Christian Günther, the late‑19th‑century villa south of the Main River now serves as the Frankfurt office of Philipp Architekten following a comprehensive restoration. Located amid museums, villas, and the publicly accessible Metzlerpark, the building impresses with nearly four‑meter‑high stucco ceilings, arched doorways, wood‑paneled walls, and herringbone parquet flooring – architectural qualities that had long been hidden under plain office fittings during decades of use as a notary’s office.

Beauty as the Greatest Factor of Sustainability

“We talk a lot about sustainability today, yet we forget the greatest sustainability factor: beauty,” says Anna Philipp, Managing Director and Design Architect, in the film. She elaborates with a compelling argument: “A building that is beautiful will always find a new purpose. A building designed only for a single function – once that purpose is gone – becomes one of those derelict structures in cities with no use or life left in them, which we then tear down. That’s why nothing is more sustainable than beauty, because a building that endures for 300, 400, 500 years – that’s true sustainability.”

This philosophy defined every stage of the renovation. Instead of over‑shaping the historical substance, the team focused on carefully revealing its inherent beauty while complementing it with contemporary interventions. The dark wood elements of floors, walls, and ceilings form a dialogue with colored and white wall surfaces. In the bright, open workspaces, large tables allow for individual work, while the designed conference rooms provide spaces for meetings and client discussions.

Light as a Spatial Element

A special highlight of the interior design is a sculptural lighting installation developed together with studio 638 and the Lebanese lighting manufacturer PSLab. “Light kisses space into life,” Anna Philipp states in the film. “Light is this intangible component that breathes life into the entire room.” UFO‑like objects hover above an amorphous table, bathing the midnight‑blue room in atmospheric light – a bespoke installation intentionally made visible from outside.

The interior design throughout is characterized by meticulously selected furniture and lighting pieces complemented by unique artworks. All light fittings are custom‑made, as are many of the furniture items – a reflection of the firm’s design philosophy based on individuality and craftsmanship.

An Individual Collective as a Work Model

The design of the spaces also mirrors a new form of collaboration. “I’ve realized that over the past three or four years, my way of working has changed fundamentally,” Anna Philipp explains. “This evolved from transforming partnerships into a team of friends with whom I closely collaborate on projects. I lovingly call it the ‘individual collective.’”

This collaborative approach takes a tangible spatial form: the lighting over the conference table, the wall colors, the furniture – everything was conceived, designed, and built together within this “individual collective.” Artworks by a close artist friend were intentionally selected to strengthen the character of these rooms as places where beauty is not only discussed but lived.

An Oasis in the City

“I love the city – its energy, its vitality, its skyscrapers – the very hustle is beautiful,” says Anna Philipp, describing her relationship with Frankfurt. “At the same time, I knew that if I were to work here, I wanted an oasis within the city – a space of calm away from the noise, right in the middle yet somehow outside it.”

The old villa, surrounded by mature trees, offered exactly that quality. The spacious garden with its old stock of trees borders the historic building. On warm days, the covered office terrace invites the team to enjoy lunch breaks together. The proximity to Frankfurt’s Museumsufer and Metzlerpark – designed by Richard Meier with rare tree species and first laid out in 1800 by Peter Salzwedel – reinforces the villa’s character as an urban oasis.

Film as a Medium of Architectural Communication

Produced by Josua Graf, the film “An Oasis in the City” goes beyond a conventional project documentation. With a duration of five minutes and twenty seconds, it interweaves atmospheric imagery of the spaces with philosophical reflections on beauty, sustainability, and the responsibility of architects toward historical buildings. Accompanied by classical music and poetic passages in German and Italian, the film evokes a contemplative atmosphere that inspires reflection on fundamental questions of architectural culture.

“The art lies in approaching the restoration of historic spaces with utmost sensitivity,” Anna Philipp emphasizes at the beginning of the film. “One must handle the inherent beauty of a space with the greatest care and respect.” This mindset not only defines the Frankfurt project but exemplifies the working approach of Philipp Architekten, who operate internationally with offices in Germany and Switzerland.

Connection to the Past as a Path to the Future

“To perceive beauty, the eye must be trained,” Anna Philipp states in the film. “And I believe that this happens through our connection to the past. We learn beauty by observing what came before us – and from that connection, we can carry it into the future.”

This conviction poses a question to contemporary architecture: How can we create spaces that embody the qualities of historic buildings – their proportions, light, and material sensuality? The film concludes with this open question: “How can we create spaces endowed with the same qualities we experience here? How can we bring modern architecture back to that point? I believe this is the essential question for us architects.”

Through the transformation of this old villa, Philipp Architekten have created a modern workspace in a historic setting – a place that inspires creativity and, true to their philosophy, allows beauty itself to emerge.

Watch the film:
YouTube: An Oasis in the City
Project details: Office Frankfurt

Video Material:
Film “An Oasis in the City” (5:20 min)
Director: Josua Graf | grafilms
Production year: 2025