steimle architekten converts agricultural barn into library kressbronn in germany

steimle architekten has converted a former agricultural barn in germany into library kressbronn, a modern, accessible building whose architecture balances between past and present. located in the center of kressbronn am bodensee, in germany, the existing construction has been transformed with few, well-considered interventions that preserve its former character. the old façade has been replaced with delicate wooden openwork which alters the structure gently, while a stone-like new base, homogeneously constructed of insulating concrete with deep, generously proportioned reveals, preserves the solid impression of the original.all images by brigida gonzález

‘proceeding from the historical significance of the stable’s architecture and the emotional ties people have to it, the building was resituated in the present, using few architectural means and without suppressing its history,’ explains steimle architekten. the barn has been revamped with simple, precisely conceived interventions, while traditional elements of the building’s character have been retained, including the deep overhanging and protective roof. the library’s core emerges from the new concrete base, connecting the two upper floors within, and its open gallery creates a tangibly different spatial experience. at the same time, the familiar saddleback roof, with its historical timber trussing that projects out far beyond the façade, remains present in the space, and can now be perceived from many perspectives.

inside, the library welcomes visitors through an open lobby, which encourages ommunication and encounters. the ground floor can be put to a variety of uses: as a dividable multipurpose room, an exhibition space, and a 24-hour library. the library on the first floor, with its media and magazine gallery and its reading stations, offers surprisingly open views though the entire building. ‘here in particular, the old and the new enter into an exciting dialogue,’ adds the german architecture office. ‘the balance of past and present becomes the building’s special quality, not only from the outside but especially from the inside.’