Hutschn

A piece of wood, a rope, a body and off you go. Swing forwards and backwards. Feel the wind on your skin. Dream undisturbed. Get out of balance and back in again. That's swinging - a simple happiness that connects us all.

"Hutschn", that's what it's called in Bavaria. That's what they say there when a child is rocked in its cradle. Behind this catchy term lies the heartfelt project of Andreas Baumann, Matthias and Andreas Bunsen. The three founders from the Berchtesgadener Land region produce high-quality swings made of oak wood, the so-called "Hutschn". In addition to their actual professions, how this unusual idea came about was pure coincidence.

Three friends, one dream
"When my grandmother passed away, I inherited a little house in Bischofswiesen. I was looking for a carpenter to help me rebuild it according to my ideas. That's how my husband Matthias and I got to know Andreas Baumann," says Andreas Bunsen. The work became a friendship and a dream came true. When they were invited to a dinner at the master carpenter's house, the two discovered a beautiful swing that he had built for his children. "We asked him why he didn't sell this swing, everyone wants one. He said that it would be far too expensive for the amount of time he put into it. But Matthias and I were so enthusiastic that we immediately said let's make a project out of it," reports Andreas.

Because all three of them loved swinging as children, they wondered what would happen if they set up swings in different places and took them out into public. "Swinging is a universal theme because it appeals to people across cultures. It addresses the childhood self that is in all of us. We want to revive this with our swings," says the founder, who runs a brand and communications agency after ten years at Lufthansa. They want to remain true to Schreiner Baumann's quality standards and only continue with the project for as long as everyone enjoys it.

The rope
The ropes on which the wooden board hangs are spliced in a process that is unique in the world. Why? Because splicing makes the ropes particularly robust and therefore able to withstand extreme loads. The rope manages completely without knots. This is familiar from shipbuilding or cable cars. The rope is held purely by the clamping effect when the individual fibers join together. "The weakest point of a rope is always the knot. Friction and stress will cause it to break at some point. Our rope, on the other hand, can withstand 2.5 tons, i.e. an entire elephant. Nobody needs that, but we love making something utopian with the material," smiles the idea generator.

The scaffolding
The "Hutschn" makers work together with a metal and timber constructor for the scaffolding on which the swing is ultimately suspended. Depending on the size, location and position, the suspension must be extremely secure. The filigree frame can also withstand wind and weather thanks to a huge foundation in the ground. With large dimensions, it can take up to six months for the raw materials for such a frame to arrive. Once they arrive, the suspension is calibrated by the master carpenter in the workshop, delivered even in the heaviest snow and assembled on site with the boys.

The land of swings
Just like in Damüls Faschina, where four oversized "Hutschn" were erected in just four weeks last winter. Only accessible on foot, one on the ski slope, at up to 1,850 meters above sea level with breathtaking mountain views. Tourism Director Mathias Klocker discovered the swings in the media and contacted the manufacturers. The collaboration was to be the start of something bigger. The tourism manager from Damüls envisioned a European swing trail in the Alps. He was met with an open ear by founder Andreas: "Mathias and I have similar ideas about how we can make tourism more sustainable and lively. We want to create something long-lasting across countries that connects us as people." After all, the focus of the swing project is on what we now understand by the somewhat hackneyed term "sustainability".

Swing into (the) freedom
There are similarly large swings not only in Damüls, but also in Andrea's home town, Berchtesgaden on the Obersalzberg. There, where Hitler had his mountain farm and made crazy plans. A "Hutschn" was deliberately erected here to symbolically swing into freedom at this sensitive location. There are also other "Hutschn" in the Kulturhof Stanggass in Bischofswiesen, in tourist businesses or on the Marxenhöhe, the latter with spectacular views of Berchtesgaden and the surrounding Alps. Andreas and his friends also frequently receive requests from celebrities, such as the author Rita Falk. "She is an enthusiastic hiker. When she's stressed, she says, she sits on the swing, swings off and lets her stories unfold," the founder proudly explains. Sometimes Andreas and Co. also send a swing out to someone who can't afford it. This is because the price of a handmade "Hutschn" can be steep: they start at 433 euros. "But these are swings for life," says Andreas and emphasizes: "We are a small workshop and want to remain true to our standards. Our prices reflect the entire creative and technical performance. I see discounts as devaluing work. Quality simply has its value. We have to learn to appreciate that again in society as a whole."

People are seekers of meaning
The "Hutschn" is more than just a swing. It is a common path that was created through the courage to spin and realize childhood dreams. "The swing helped the three of us to think back. It sounds weird, but as soon as someone sits on a swing, the meta-level is activated. People who are very cerebral finally let go. There's something liberating about swings," says Andreas and explains: "We've carried out experiments and set up four swings opposite each other at larger festivals. People who were complete strangers swung towards each other and got talking. They touched each other with their feet, joked and laughed. At the end, they sat together in the meadow and talked."

The "Hutschn" is therefore a stirrup to give people ideas and bring them together. "Our focus was never on selling the swing, but on using it," says Andreas. Also to steer tourism flows. The swings are intended to guide guests away from the hot spots and thus slow things down in these places. Something that is also very important to the three friends. "We've all experienced similar things. Influenced by the performance madness that was drummed into us at school, we were trapped in this hamster wheel and were no longer happy," says the Berchtesgadener and says: "The project got us out of it. From the compulsion to always have to do something. We have refocused on the quality of work, friendship and life. Because at the end of the day, we only have this one thing and it's over pretty damn quickly."

Resonance instead of alienation
Of course, this is not always easy. Because even when working with friends, someone always wanted to be at the forefront. "We can laugh about that today, it has welded us together. We have brought an incredible amount of quality and experiences into our lives, especially through collaboration. So much more has come out of our friendship through the many conversations at the weekends," says Andreas happily. He would therefore like to see even more exciting projects in the future, such as setting up swings in crisis areas or between poor and rich districts in cities. "The first swing was found during excavations in the 13th century BC, probably by a priestess from Crete. As an enthusiastic European, I want to use cultural projects throughout Europe to philosophically illustrate the change in perspective and create real encounters between people," reveals the communications expert.

After all, the topics that fascinate and concern people are always the same. Andreas says: "We live in a digital world in which we can be anywhere we want in 24 hours. But what we lack is resonance. Doing what you really enjoy and what makes sense. This magically attracts other people and creates a real connection. This is also what the "Hutschn" project stands for. Our swing can be such a vibration, an impulse to see the world with different eyes."

Changing the perspective
"I've always asked myself how I can do good business and leave a small ecological footprint. It doesn't always work out, but I want to live as sustainably and regionally as possible. The older I get, the more important that is to me," says the swing fan. For him, this means above all getting away from the higher, faster, further and towards a quieter life and tourism. The swing creates an interface between people and nature. It is an invitation to change one's perspective, to constantly sharpen one's view of the surroundings and to follow the childlike impulse. As well as thinking beyond the classic production of objects and using the swing in areas such as philosophy, culture and performances with artists. "We always think about where there are synergies and meet people who want to make a difference, like in the Bregenzerwald. There are so many people there who simply create and shape things together. I was immediately drawn to this culture," says the creative mind enthusiastically.