The newly opened Engelwirt hotel is transforming the medieval city walls—long the main draw for visitors to the Upper Palatinate town of Berching. Following extensive renovations and additions to the former provost's residence, originally built in 1686, an exceptional guest house emerged last year. The once-distinguished town house had stood vacant for 22 years, falling into severe disrepair. The vision and determination of developers Stephanie and Michael Zink breathed new life into the building.

The architect couple Tamara Henry & Mathieu Robitaille, who had previously designed new spaces for gallery owner Michael Zink in nearby Waldkirchen, returned to plan the renovation and restoration of two historic buildings alongside two new structures, and to design the hotel's guest quarters. Rather than standard rooms, they created 15 distinctive, meticulously crafted apartments distributed across four buildings. These enclose an inner courtyard that easily evokes a small Italian piazza. The new construction thoughtfully closes gaps that centuries of change had created in what was once a continuous quadrangle. The architects nicknamed the impressive existing building "Hotel Baroque" – a protected landmark exemplifying 17th-century Baroque architecture in the region. With its two grand residential floors and three-storey timber roof structure, it anchors the entire complex. To the left of the courtyard stands the former servants' quarters, now convertible to a holiday rental after renovation. The two new buildings present strikingly different characters: the "Yard House," a two-storey transverse structure with a flat roof, closes off the courtyard's front edge. Its glass façade can be shaded with orange roller blinds, while V-shaped metal bracing echoes the original timber beams. It contains two generous and two smaller contemporary apartments. The "Probst House," the second addition, completes the ensemble where a barn once stood. Its form carefully respects the ensemble's protected status and surrounding structures. A concrete frame supporting a pitched gable carries the new roof, with exposed brick infill between the frame elements and glass blocks introducing daylight within. An elevator ensures accessibility for guests with mobility needs. Four apartments occupy two levels. Sustainability was central from the outset. Every significant architectural element was preserved and integrated: ornate door frames with their hand-forged hardware, ornamental plaster ceilings, and the original staircase. The aged wood and stone floors were restored to pristine condition. As a highlight, surface-integrated photovoltaic modules were installed on the protected roof – a pioneering move that merges heritage preservation with clean energy.

Working in close partnership with these visionary developers, the architects created spaces that radiate warmth and refinement. The main building's rooms bear evocative names—Justizia Suite, Seasons Room, Balcony Room—with the expansive "Angel Apartment" crowning the roofline as the jewel of the collection. A true maisonette in the sky, it's the first among equals. Gallery owner Zink ensured each room featured walls dedicated to pieces from his modern art collection. Stephanie Zink orchestrated the interiors throughout: a sophisticated blend of vintage and contemporary furnishings, where discerning visitors discover refined materials, exceptional textiles, and elevated design at every turn. A ground-floor salon serves as both café and event space, completed by a full kitchen. To call this a "hotel" understates what it is. As Voltaire observed: "Perfect is the enemy of good."

www.atelier-dimanche.ch
www.engelwirt.com

Photography:
Courtesy of Engelwirt Berching

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|25)