A family of five set out to find their dream home in the countryside. With both an architect and interior designer on the team, they knew a ready-made house or standardized development wouldn't suffice. When they discovered this neglected stone farmhouse with barn on an overgrown 900 m² plot, they knew they'd found their project.

They meticulously restored the original residence while demolishing a 1950s concrete structure that once stood nearby. In its place, they built a striking timber extension that gracefully connects the main house with the barn. Positioned deliberately between the two heritage buildings, this new element maintains a distinct visual dialogue with its neighbors. Inside, the extension opens up into a single, soaring volume: an expansive kitchen-living space. The result: three distinct forms, each retaining its architectural identity. Built with timber frame construction, the new connector meets rigorous ecological and energy performance standards. Both the façade and the asymmetrical pitched roof are clad entirely in vertical larch board—untreated and destined to silver beautifully with age. This creates a contemporary, monolithic character that feels wonderfully light and weightless between the solid stone buildings. The natural patina of the wood ensures an effortless integration into the existing ensemble. Generous south-facing glazing pairs with a solid north wall to create ideal climate conditions throughout. Sliding elements allow the expansive glass surfaces to seal flush with the façade, offering residents complete flexibility in privacy and solar control.

Inside the compact 70 m² farmhouse, the team stripped away decades of accumulated wall paneling and paint layers, gutting and carefully restoring the structure while preserving its authentic character. True to their philosophy, the architects chose not to fully insulate the walls—a decision that respected the building's original essence over complete energy efficiency. The original plastic windows and entrance door, however, were replaced with new slate-grey timber-framed arched windows that honor the building's farmhouse heritage.

www.heltwerk.de

Photography Credits:

Fiona Körner

(Featured in CUBE Frankfurt 02|22)