The new Manufakturen Guide Baden-Württemberg is a reference book that covers artisan studios in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a visual testament to the sheer diversity of handicraft workshops in the state, and includes around 300 historied and innovative workshops across 360 pages. The project, initiated by Pascal Johanssen from the Direktorenhaus exhibition house in Berlin and Matthias Vickermann, a custom shoemaker from BadenBaden, is characterized by a level of extraordinary quality that matches its subject matter – a fact made possible by Koehler Paper contributing as a sponsor with premium paper.
The guide has been printed on premium recycled paper from the greenium brand; more specifically, on Creative Print with a grammage of 120 gsm. This paper provides the book with a natural feel while simultaneously ensuring printing quality for countless pictures and stories from the world of handicrafts.
“The Manufakturen Guide takes the endless passion, creativity, and precise craftsmanship that characterize the work of many companies in Baden-Württemberg and brings them to life in front of our eyes. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to have been able to support this one-of-a-kind project with our recycled paper,” explains Udo Hollbach, managing director of the Koehler Paper Greiz mill.
A window into craftsmanship in Baden-Württemberg
From the moment one looks at the book, it becomes clear that quality was a guiding criterion from the very beginning. The large volume with a gray bookcloth spine and an embossed yellow cover is stunning, and its Swiss binding rounds out the package. When using this bookbinding method, the text block is not attached to the spine and is instead only attached to the back cover, which keeps the stitching and binding visible and further highlights the handcrafted nature of the book.
The inside of the guide, meanwhile, invites readers to learn more about the extraordinary artisan studios and workshops that can be found in Baden-Württemberg, with a range that goes from lamps and furniture; to objects and sculptures; to textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and clocks. Ultimately, however, all the businesses presented in the book share a passion for top-quality products that in many cases are made with incredibly meticulous manual labor.
