Munich architect Alexandra Kiendl has brought new life to a remarkable building tucked away in a rear courtyard in Untersendling. Originally, it may well have been a horse stable – the foundation walls date back to 1888, as evidenced by the original vaulted ceiling still visible in the basement. Over the decades, it served as a garage and workshop before being reinforced and raised in 1949, then converted into residential space in the early 2000s. However, the building had developed serious structural and moisture problems – damp walls and, according to expert assessment, a risk of collapse. "That's when I stepped in, in 2016," recalls Kiendl.

There was substantial work to be done: waterproofing the walls, underpinning structural elements, installing a horizontal damp-proof course and dual heating loops in the foundation to ensure the masonry remains warm and dry long-term. The architect collaborated with the clients – a family with two children – to create smart interior solutions. The staircase, which had previously consumed valuable space in the compact floor plan, was completely relocated and redesigned. The result is a striking focal point: an indirectly lit staircase featuring white-painted wall panels in American yellow poplar and solid oiled oak treads that draw the eye and brighten both the once-dark basement passage and the routes to upper sleeping areas, including the master suite and children's rooms beneath the eaves. On the ground floor, a generous bay window floods the minimalist white space with light. The bespoke birch plywood kitchen with stainless steel counters – engineered with millimetre precision to accommodate the building's slightly uneven walls – reads as sculptural furniture. Honoring the building's industrial heritage, steel and glass elements recur throughout: a custom-fabricated door with glass panes set in steel frames is one standout example. This aesthetic is completed by the minimalist grey Pandomo floor, a polished concrete finish with exposed screed character.

An ideal spot for a home office emerged after initial plans to place the workspace on a (soon-to-be-enclosed) balcony were abandoned. It now occupies a generously proportioned gallery on the first floor, positioned opposite the music room and created by the staircase relocation. Once dried out, the vaulted basement was transformed into a spa-like bathroom, its wood flooring and natural stone materials establishing a warm, luminous atmosphere. The renovation also uncovered and opened up hidden niches throughout the house and cellar, making room for a compact laundry area and allowing a light well with natural windows to be integrated – bringing daylight to previously dark corners.

www.alexkiendl.de

Photography Credits:

Gerhard Nixdorf
www.nixdorf-fotografie.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 03|21)