Sep Ruf – The Architect of Modernism

About the film

Sep Ruf may not be a household name, yet his influence on post-war German architecture is definitely worthy of more attention. Known for his refined, minimalist style and his commitment to democratic ideals, Ruf made a significant contribution to the architectural identity of cities like Munich and Nuremberg, with more than 300 realised buildings. Spanning examples such as the Neue Maxburg, the Chancellor’s Bungalow and the iconic German pavilion at the 1958 World Fair in Brussel, this insightful documentary sheds light on Ruf’s understated legacy: an architect who avoided publicity but left behind a sizeable body or work. Not shying away from the architect’s silence during the Nazi era or the invisibility of his collaborators, the film captures the breadth of Ruf’s oeuvre and the cultural tensions it responded to.