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Thorsmoerk is a rural residential and social community in Rondeshagen, located just outside LĂĽbeck.[3] The facility was founded by a parent initiative and aims to enable people with cognitive impairments to live a self-determined life in a supportive community.[8]
The foundation of the work at Thorsmoerk is based on Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy and the associated understanding of people and nature.[5] The organization pursues a holistic approach that equally considers body, soul, and spirit and supports the residents in their individual development.
The facility cares for its residents in three separate houses, each with its own special features.[7] This division enables an individual design of the residential groups and helps the residents to live in a familiar and manageable environment. The structure of the residential communities promotes community and mutual support.
An essential component of the Thorsmoerk concept is the weaving mill, where a variety of hand-woven products of special quality are produced.[6] This workshop not only offers the residents meaningful employment but also the opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to the community. The high-quality craftsmanship is an expression of the quality standards and the anthroposophical understanding of work as a holistic experience.
Thorsmoerk is organized as a registered association and is managed by a board.[4] The association structure enables active participation of the community in decision-making processes and contributes to transparent administration.
Thorsmoerk embodies an innovative model of disability support that goes far beyond mere care. The facility creates a place where people with cognitive impairments are not seen as passive recipients of services, but as active members of a community who can contribute and develop their skills. By combining living space, workshop work, and an anthroposophical understanding of being human, Thorsmoerk offers a comprehensive and dignified living environment.
The rural location also contributes to the holistic concept, as it enables proximity to nature and a decelerated life – principles that are central to anthroposophical pedagogy and social design. Thorsmoerk is therefore a best-practice example of inclusive and sustainable social communities that recognize disability not as a deficiency, but as part of human diversity.
