peter haimerl revives a bavarian farmhouse with glass and concrete insertions

in the midst of a bavarian forest, a traditional farmhouse – or ‘waidlerhaus’ – has undergone a striking restoration by munich-based architect peter haimerl. located on a sloping site, the house at schedlberg served as a so-called ‘austragshaus’ – a home for the retired farmer – before lying empty for decades. this most recent intervention by haimerl retains what’s left of the original structure and supports it with contemporary insertions. the result is a design that doesn’t attempt to conceal the fragility of the former farmhouse, but instead clearly exposes both past and present together in one architectural expression.

all images © edward beierle

the abandoned building, which combined a house and stable under one roof, was left to decay until this project by haimerl. the scope of the work was to restore the ruin and complement and support the original structure with a contemporary one. to achieve this, concrete blocks have been inserted into the gaps of the old timber frame, which, with their seemingly random configuration, appear almost like jenga. large elements of glazing have also been introduced, bringing natural light into the interiors and affording views out to surrounding forest 

moving away from its traditional use as a farmhouse, today, the house at schedlberg functions as a place for thinkers, encounters, academies and masterclasses. moreover, with its juxtaposition of new and old, it stands as a monument to a dying building tradition that must evolve in order to survive.

project info:

project name: house at schedlberg

location: germany

architect: peter haimerl

photography: edward beierle