At the edge of Nördlingen's historic old town, a dilapidated structure stood on a former agricultural site—destined for demolition. The existing 1950s residence, however, would be given new life through comprehensive renovation. In its place, atelier coa designed a new building that seamlessly adjoins the existing structure, establishing a new visual and urban anchor for the property through its scale and orientation. Working closely with the city, the project delivered approximately 40 office workspaces and four apartments, while two existing units underwent full renovation and a maisonette residence was created by extending the original building upward. The staircase connects the two perpendicular structures, providing barrier-free access throughout the ensemble.

To realize the client's vision of an ecologically sustainable building, the architects chose a wood-concrete hybrid construction system. Reinforced concrete slabs and columns form the load-bearing structure, while a solid staircase and gable wall panels provide lateral bracing. The non-load-bearing timber façade—made from cross-laminated timber and suspended in front of the shell—combines with mineral wool insulation to create the thermal envelope. Distinctive wooden pilasters evoke the site's former role as a "farm barn" and function as solar shading in summer. Bold red fabric awnings punctuate the façade, their striking color echoed in the design of office-floor communication zones.

The top floor is timber-framed with exposed roof trusses. A cross-laminated timber deck spanning the full width of the house introduces a mezzanine level, transforming the attic into a two-story maisonette. While the new and existing structures form a unified composition, their distinct temporal origins remain visibly apparent by design. The heritage building features a simple rendered façade, while windows, brickwork, and metal details match those of the new construction.

www.atelier-coa.de

Photography:

Daniel Stauch Photography
www.danielstauch.com

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 02|24)