The growing popularity of adaptive reuse is truly encouraging. In many cases, only modest interventions are needed to align a home with contemporary aesthetic and energy standards. Fabi Architects from Regensburg took just this approach with a single-family home in Straubing. In its original state—two slightly offset rectangular volumes topped with a pent roof—the 1970s structure clearly showed its age. Rather than imposing dramatic changes, the architects employed a strategy of selective removal and careful restoration to unveil the building's inherent qualities. "Our goal was to reveal the architectural integrity of the structure by stripping away unnecessary elements," the architects explain, "while simultaneously adding contemporary features that honor the building's original design language, creating living spaces that are both modern and respectful of the past."

The façade underwent a careful cleansing. Superfluous cladding—fiber cement panels, dark timber boarding on balconies and exterior surfaces, and outdated window frames—was systematically removed. What emerged was remarkable: a home whose true character had been obscured by decades of additions. The cure proved elegant in its simplicity: new insulation and render. A soft gray brushed plaster was selected, with crisp white window frames occasionally highlighted through a contrasting finish technique. The upper-floor balcony received a refined new balustrade—delicate and contemporary, a marked improvement over its predecessor.

The interior followed the same disciplined philosophy. Extraneous ornamentation was removed, while the original floor plans were largely preserved. Floors, however, were completely reimagined. Apart from a handful of rooms granted parquet, all spaces now share a continuous flooring of Solnhofer limestone—a decision that visibly expands spatial perception through material continuity. The removal of a central coat closet has freed the entry sequence, allowing the staircase to emerge as an almost sculptural element. Strategic wall adjustments and a new wellness suite with sauna in the basement round out the interventions. The result speaks for itself: a transformed home that honors its heritage while embracing contemporary living.

www.fabi-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Herbert Stolz
www.herbert-stolz.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 03|22)