The prefabricated house company Hanse Haus: the exciting journey from the Hanseatic city of Lübeck-Travemünde to Oberleichtersbach in the Bavarian Rhön
its history
When master carpenter Hermann Wandke founded his small carpentry business in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck-Travemünde in 1929, he surely didn’t think that people would still be writing about him 90 years later.
Because he couldn't know that
by establishing the company “Hanse-Fertighaus-Bau”, he had laid the foundations for one of today’s leading prefabricated house companies in Germany.
Of course, a lot has changed since then, but one thing has stayed the same:
the passion for the natural material that is wood and our Nordic name “Hanse Haus”, which even today seems exotic in the middle of the Bavarian Rhön.
Company founding in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck
1929
In Lübeck-Travemünde, the small carpentry business “Hanse-Fertighaus-Bau” is founded.
Oberleichtersbach as the head office location
1962
On a trip to the south, company founder Hermann Wandke discovers Unterleichtersbach in Lower Franconia, a district of Oberleichtersbach in the Bavarian Rhön.
He establishes a subsidiary factory of Hanse Haus here a few years later.
Relocation of the main prefabricated house factory to Bavaria
1979
The factory in Oberleichtersbach is modernised, making the location in Bavaria the main production site for Hanse Haus prefabricated houses.
Hanse Haus moves to the Rhön area in Bavaria for good.
The Colani Haus on the occasion of our 75th anniversary
2004
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Hanse Haus presents an architectural study on living in the future together with design icon Luigi Colani. The result is a “rotor” house of only 36 square metres in size which can be visited at our Show Home Park in Oberleichtersbach.
A Hanse Haus passive house in just eight hours
2009
Hanse Haus builds a passive house in just eight hours before numerous spectators on the occasion of the company’s 80th anniversary. Once again, it demonstrates its qualities as a competent manufacturer of prefabricated houses.
Show home according to KfW Efficiency House 40 standard
2010
Hanse Haus opens the first show home built according to KfW Efficiency House 40 standards – even before KfW officially introduced this new subsidy level for new buildings.
Awarded for being the fairest prefabricated house manufacturer
2012
Focus Money asks how fairly prefabricated house manufacturers deal with their customers. Hanse Haus receives the highest marks in all categories.
Show home according to plus-energy standards
2013
With its plus-energy concept, Hanse Haus in Wuppertal presents a show home that generates more energy than it consumes.
Highest marks from Focus Money & new show homes
2014
The highest marks once again as the fairest prefabricated house manufacturer
For the second time in a row, Hanse Haus receives the highest mark of “very good” in the fairness study conducted by Focus Money (issue 44/2014).
New show home in Bad Vilbel near Frankfurt, Hessen
In Bad Vilbel, Hanse Haus opens a new show home which provides space for living and working under one roof.
Opening of the new show home in Munich
The new show home in Munich combines Bavarian country home architecture and modernity.
Other awards & show homes
2015
Show home with fuel cell technology
At the factory site in Oberleichtersbach, a new show home of the Bavarian prefabricated house company is being built – where Hanse Haus is opting for innovative fuel cell technology for the heating system.
The fairest prefabricated house manufacturer for the third time
For the third time in a row, Hanse Haus receives the highest mark of “very good” in the fairness study conducted by Focus Money (issue 44/2015).
Finalist in the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises
Hanse Haus is a finalist at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises, Germany’s most important business award. Among other things, it evaluated the creation of vocational training opportunities and jobs, company development and customer proximity.
Still more show homes & awards
2016
Award for sustainability
The German Sustainable Building Council (GSBC) awards the Gold Sustainability Certificate for the first house in Germany heated by a gas fuel cell – Hanse Haus’s show house in Oberleichtersbach.
Now the fairest prefabricated house manufacturer for the fourth time
Hanse Haus once again receives top marks from Focus Money and is honoured for the fourth time in a row as the fairest prefabricated house company.
Prizewinner at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises
Hanse Haus is a prizewinner at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises The prefabricated house manufacturer Hanse Haus is one of the most exemplary and best medium-sized companies in Bavaria.
Construction of two show homes according to the Efficiency House 40 Plus standard
The construction of new show homes according to the subsidy-eligible Efficiency House 40 Plus standard at the Mülheim-Kärlich Show Home Centre and at the Günzburg Prefabricated House World.
More show homes & awards
2017
Construction of two new show homes in Baden-Württemberg
Opening of new show homes at the Villingen-Schwenningen Show Home Park and at the Home and Garden Exhibition in Fellbach near Stuttgart.
Jury stage at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises
Hanse Haus once again reached the jury stage at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises.
GSBC Platinum certification
The Variant 198 show house in Fellbach in Baden-Württemberg receives the highest sustainability certification – platinum – from the German Sustainable Building Council (GSBC).
Other awards & show homes
2018
New Villa show home at the Show Home Park in Oberleichtersbach
A new show home in the style of a modern urban villa is built in Oberleichtersbach on German Prefabricated Construction Day.
“Premier finalist” at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises
Hanse Haus GmbH & Co. KG is awarded the “Premier-Finalist” prize at the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Enterprises, which only three other companies receive.