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Buddhists plan Center near the Alpsee
29. Října 2011
Allgäuer Anzeigeblatt, 31 March 2007
Diamond Way Foundation wants to redevelop Gut Hochreute
By Brigitte Horn
German original
Immenstadt-Bühl
An old manorial villa, picturesquely situated above the Alpsee, will, as a seminar and event house for lay people, become the representative Europe Center of the Tibetan Buddhism Foundation Diamond Way. This project has been presented to the city council and promises a noticeable added value in tourism from meditation courses, trainings and study programs. The district office is currently reviewing whether the international meeting place can be realized in the landscape conservation area.
Philip Leube presented the Diamond Way Buddhists and their Oberallgäu plans to the local politicians. The architect lives with his family in the foundation‘s seminar house at Schwarzenberg, which was founded by his mother 24 years ago. There residents and tenants host, as volunteers, the international visitors who spend their holidays in a Buddhist center, some 320 of which exist across Europe
The Diamond Way Foundation, which is recognized as a non-profit organization, has looked for representative headquarters in Europe for many years, reports Leube. „Many small single donations“ have been collected for this purpose. With Gut Hochreute, the buddhists believe they have found the suitable place. The guests would be able to „deepen their knowledge about the 2500 year old world religion and meditate in the inspiring environment of the Allgäu alps“.
According to Philip Leube, the group plans to renovate the art nouveau villa. It will be preserved without any major changes and with monument conservation in mind. The stables and guest house will be developed for around 20 residents and 60 guests. And eventually an additional building for events will be designed in place of the wall at the east side.
The 48 hectares of land surrounding the mansion, will continue to be rented out for agricultural purposes. Likewise, the recreational value around Hochreute including its trails will remain untouched, promised Leube. In addition, he offered to present the foundation plans in a public event for all interested citizens.
If the project can be realized, the Diamond Way Buddhists estimate 45,000 overnight stays, because of their many planned activities – for the summer camp alone about 1500 guests are expected – explains Philip Leube: „upward trend“. Because only „a fraction“ of them can live in the center itself, the surrounding restaurants and hotels would benefit and he also predicted sales increases for suppliers and retailers.
Because the planned project is situated in a landscape conservation area, the district office, as the approving authority, currently reviews whether the planned change of use is acceptable, explained Mayor Bischoff to the city council. If this is approved, the commune would regulate some important conditions with the owners in a construction contract, as a compulsory condition for the agreement.
Therefore, Gut Hochreute would have to be connected to the public sewer system and water supply. In addition the private road would, as before, only be allowed to be used by residents, with public traffic excluded. Philip Leube does not foresee any problems. They plan to establish a shuttle bus for larger events from a parking lot to the mansion.
New splendour for significant art nouveau villa
Multifaceted renovation is planned for Gut Hochreute
Immenstadt-Bühl (ho).
The mansion Hochreute – idyllically situated on the sunny side high above the Alpsee – is classified as „ a rare art nouveau ensemble of extraordinary quality“ by the state office for the preservation of monuments.
The manorial villa, guest house and stables, built 1910/11 by the textile manufacturer Dr. Martini from Augsburg, will soon „shine in new splendour“, promises the prospective buyer, the Buddhism Foundation Diamond Way. Experts describe the listed historical monument on a hillside of Bühl as an ensemble dominated by two villa-like residential buildings with hipped roofs, corner oriels and tower as well as arcades to the courtyard. The buildings group around a square with landscaped garden.
Word guide
Diamond Way Buddhism
Buddhism is a world religion of approximately one billion people. Traditionally established in East Asia, it has also been established in Europe for the past 100 years. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 practicing Buddhists in Germany alone today.
The Diamond Way Buddhism Foundation, voluntarily operated and solely financed by donations wants to establish its representative headquarters for Europe in Immenstadt-Bühl. It belongs to the Tibetan „Karma Kagyu School“. The spiritual leader is Karmapa Thaye Dorje, who is, in Tibetan Buddhism, equal rank to the Dalai Lama, who, however, gained a global reputation through his political activity. The leader of the Karma Kagyu Lineage lives in exile in India since his escape from Tibet but would also be given rooms at Gut Hochreute.
The Diamond Way Buddhists in Germany are all lay people with families and jobs, who, they stress, do not proselytize. They only try to put the Buddhist life into practice for themselves in their everyday life. Through meditation they want to achieve balance and inner calm. Diamond Way Buddhism has been in the Allgäu region for 24 years. A frequently used seminar house is in Schwarzenberg, a district of Oy-Mittelberg. And just last year there was a meeting of 1200 Buddhists from all over Europe in Nesselwang. Information about Diamond Way Buddhism at www.buddhismus-stiftung.de.
Quote
„We are well aware of intending to acquire a jewel here.“
Philip Leube, architect and practicing Diamond Way Buddhist about Gut Hochreute.
Caption:
The Diamond Way Buddhism Foundation wants to acquire Gut Hochreute with its beautiful art nouveau villa (above) which is situated high above the Alpsee. The listed ensemble with guest house and stables (right) shall be renovated and developed into an international meeting place. Photos: Diemand
Publikováno 29. Října 2011.
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