The south Tyrol AEON Hotel was designed by noa* (network of architecture), a firm based in Bolzano, Italy who used this project to highlight the boundaries and connection between old and new worlds.

“The creation of an ambivalent tension between the centuries-old tradition of the rural complex and an exclusively modern statement was the basic principle underlying the design process,” explains designer Christian Rottensteiner on the noa* website.

Instead of one large structure, the architects decided to begin the theme of duality with two separate barn-shaped buildings. The exterior forms pay homage to the 550-year-old farm on which the B&B resides. Gabled roofs and wood siding harvested from the property’s own forest, as well as the family’s old coat of arms from 1464 posted on the entry, highlight the past of the hotel that was formerly the historic Lobishof Inn. Pentagonal floor-to-ceiling windows on every floor provide stunning views of the Merano Alps, Dolomites, and Rittner Horn.

Moving inside, the first building houses the common areas, including a reception desk, bistro, bar, and wellness area. The color contrast is immediately apparent and striking. A deep blue covers the ceiling and top one-third of the walls, while whites and creams comprise the bottom two-thirds and the floor. The hues were chosen specifically to convey a sense of the past and future: “A soft beige – communicates feelings of being grounded, familiar, delicateness – meets a mystical blue that embodies the future, the mysterious, the uncertain,’ the noa* website says.

These tint divisions don’t merely run through the walls, but also cut across furniture and fixtures at the exact same horizontal planes. Only in the wellness area is the color play inverted, with navy on the bottom and white on top, representing the feeling of wading or floating in water.

To enter the second building, a collection of 15 guest suites, there’s no need to enter the outside world again. Instead, the designers created a tunnel between the two structures, ingeniously buried under a manmade hill. Moving through this tunnel is a similarly transportive experience, as the walls are intersected by harsh angles of contrasting blue and white. “Guests are invited to move through and sense this cosmos between polarizing environments,” explains noa* interior designer Patrick Gürtler.

The tone of the B&B shifts in the guest suite barn, where all color divisions become vertical. Rugs, bed, tables, and even lamp shades cannot escape being split by these lines. The Gallery Suite is perhaps the most arresting example of the separated verticality, as it features a two-story-high ceiling and a “living platform” on the roof for cozily gazing into the heavens.

In the end, the architects hope their design will help guests sense the unseen bonds around them. “Boundaries – between past and future, between dream and reality, between inside and outside: noa* makes the invisible lines visible, which become part of the full picture and, above all, instead of a separation, a connection between two worlds.”

The post AEON: Italian B&B Toes the Line Between Modern and Rural first appeared on Dornob.

With a mind toward producing less waste while also creating new, useful, and beautiful things, repurposing has become an important part of how those in both fashion and design have come to reevaluate their respective industries.

Awards like the Design Prize recognize such efforts through their “Social Impact” category. Since 2017, this annual award has helped shine a spotlight on extraordinary design achievements that make an impact through thoughtful and eco-conscious projects.

This year, the Design Prize 2021 for social impact was awarded to Bangkok Project Studio, a Thailand-based firm led by Boonserm Premthada. Primarily based in Thailand, Bangkok Project Studio is known for their outstanding nuanced designs that often underscore the importance of nature. Past projects include an elephant museum made of upcycled bricks (themselves created from elephant dung), “The Walk,” an elevated walkway meant to highlight the importance of the often-overlooked natural world beneath our feet, and an observation tower at “Elephant World” in Thailand.

The latest project, and the winner of this year’s social impact Design Prize, is yet another feather in the cap of the Thai firm, this one in the form of a nine-meter rice tower. While this in itself may not sound very exciting, there are several things about the project that stand out and make it award-worthy. Located in a zoo in the country’s northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, the imposing nine-meter tall rice tower was constructed through the intentional repurposing of five timber barns that were set to be demolished. The firm, led by Premthada, took apart the existing barns and reassembled them into something new, with an “[aim to] give new architectural language to the word ‘barn’ or ‘rice storage’ commonly found and used after the harvest season,” according to designboom.

This rethinking and reimagining of existing structures or objects has always been an important consideration for the firm, who often aims to merge their structures with their natural surroundings and connect them in some way. Here, the rice tower was created using the wood from the deserted barns, maintaining the overall essence of the their original purpose. Rising up from the ground in a new and exciting form “connecting the ground and the sky,” the tower is a testament to the importance of rice in Thailand, specifically in this northeastern region, which produces the best quality rice in the largest quantities. The repurposed wooden spire is also a monument to rice farmers, who nurture, grow, and harvest the crop while acting as its caregivers.

Through a mindful repurposing of dilapidated rural barns, Bangkok Project Studio “was inspired to give new language to the wooden barn,” creating a structure that’s multipurpose in both its messaging and practical uses. Serving as a playground for children by day and a habitat for local birds and animals at night, the structure is truly meant to be welcoming to all. Now, one of the area’s most signature features has become something new and impressive that’s not only symbolic, but symbiotic, working in tandem with its natural surroundings to create something beautiful and useful.

The post New Rice Tower in Thailand is Made from Repurposed Barns first appeared on Dornob.

A gorgeous fusion of old and new, this dwelling incorporates historic stone walls already on the building site, tapping into the leftover structural walls and foundation of a bygone barn.

In this gorgeous adaptive reuse project by McGarry-Moon Architects (images by Adam Currie) in Northern Ireland, the historic structural stone of a crumbling ruined barn segues into contemporary metal and wood siding, creating a lovely juxtaposition of past and present materials, balancing weathered history and streamlined modernity.

As compelling as the finished product of this historic renovation is, the process photographs really help tell the story of preservation and architectural adaptation involved in this sensitive intervention. Existing walls had to be tested, stabilized, sliced, capped and protected before introducing the new steel frame (and in turn finer-grid wooden frame) for the additional sections of house. Each intersection required careful planning and execution. The result of the barn remodel is clearly worthwhile, however, proving that we shouldn’t demolish old structures just because they’re no longer usable in their current condition.

“This unassuming residence is a responsive configuration of skilfully contained views from the interior the manipulation of natural light combined with fluid, informal spaces allowing us to create architecture that has some dramatic moments but does not overly dominate the character of the existing stone barn. The house is surprising which engages people and allows the dwelling a unique character without having to resort to reproducing a replica of the past.”

“The original stone structure, the splendid views of ‘Slemish’ and the desire for comfortable understated interiors were the principles that focused us as architects. The preservation and consolidation of the stone structure was fundamental in achieving an architecture where the old and new complemented each other. Thus the residence was designed by fusing new technologies with older building techniques whilst incorporating sustainability ideals in order to create a rural architecture for the 21st century, rather than simply remodeling or recreating the methods and manners of the past.”

The post Stone Barn Wall Built into New Home first appeared on Dornob.

When aiming for a minimalist aesthetic with maximum function in a small space, built-ins are often the best bet, especially when they take advantage of high ceilings. Lofts are a popular and highly effective way to add extra usable square footage to a structure with a small footprint without requiring extensive renovations, which is crucial when working with historic properties. In this case, Antwerp-based design firm Studio Farris found a solution that makes use of a small barn in Flanders, Belgium, keeping the outside of the structure intact while visually expanding the interior. The new loft is both dynamic and functional, bringing a sculptural quality to the space.

The studio restored the building’s original brick facade, giving it a new roof in keeping with its original design and replacing all of the windows with new, larger expanses of glass to bring daylight inside. From the outside, it still looks like an ordinary stable of the sort you can find all over the Belgian countryside, but you’d never guess what the inside looks like before stepping through the door.

“The original stable, dating back to the early 1900s, was composed of several small rooms on two floors,” says Studio Farris. “With their renovation, the architects wanted to transform this fragmented space by enhancing the perception of the total form of the building. So they completely emptied it by demolishing the rooms and the first floor. Within this outer brick envelope, they created an inner one made out of concrete. A new ‘box’ with a serene atmosphere was designed and inserted into the original volume.”

Rather than dividing the available space once again by adding a second floor, which would have made the interior feel dark and small, the designers custom-designed an unusual modern centerpiece that functions as both the support for a small loft, a staircase, and an oversized piece of storage furniture. This autonomous addition has a minimal impact on the integrity of the original structure, but makes a maximum visual impact, giving it a sense of dynamic energy.

The building itself acts as a shell for this freestanding volume, needing no other walls or internal supports that would break up the space. The addition is made of stacked wooden beams with a sturdy, grounded feel, but the arrangement also implies movement, as if the beams could slide in and out independently in an oversized game of Jenga. The object creates a series of new interior spaces, including a meeting area beneath the platform and an elevated office with desks positioned opposite windows framing views of the rural landscape.

This built-in furniture system is perfect for stacking books, creating a mini library for the use of those who work within. Though this renovation was created specifically for use as an office, it’s easy to imagine this same system customized for residential use as well, holding displays of personal items in addition to books. When the structure’s current life as a workplace comes to an end, the addition can be disassembled, with the beams recycled or reused for a new project.

The post Stacked Wood Adds a Cool New Loft to a Barn in Belgium first appeared on Dornob.

Drive through any agriculture-based locale and you’re likely to see plenty of old, abandoned wooden structures. Lonely farmhouses, decaying barns, and disused outbuildings often just sit where they are until nature topples them or someone salvages them for parts. Designer Uli Schallenberg has proven that these forgotten buildings can be made useful again without even changing their basic structure. His reclaimed barn residence shows that even minimal changes can have big effects.

The gorgeous renovation project is an exploration of practical reuse and perspective shifting. Everything inside has been suspended from the ceiling beams: the bed, countertop, dining table, stove, and even a swing. The focus is on the atmosphere that simple fabric and lighting can bring to a structure as long as it has good bones and natural materials.

Suspending the interior objects from the ceiling helps give the space a kind of dreamy, floaty look. This is enhanced by the billowy white canopy loosely covering the ceiling and walls.

Opening up the front and rear doors of the barn during the day lets in sunlight and warmth. At night, the interior has an almost ethereal glow by candle light. But in terms of costly changes, it’s surprising to say the least that so little had to be done to the exterior to make this space feel like a home instead of a dilapidated outbuilding. In fact, passersby would hardly know that anyone is living in it. We suppose if you’re going for stealth, that could be a good thing. More ambitious builders would likely give it a much more complex transformation, adding giant windows, skylights, maybe even an entirely new shape.

Obviously, replicating this sustainable renovation project would require a stable structure and a warm climate. The designer has proven, though, that even the most unlikely or ignored structures can be reimagined by simply shifting one’s perspective.

The post Reclaimed Barn Becomes a Beautiful, Livable Residence first appeared on Dornob.

This rural outbuilding to home conversion in the Irish village of Broughshane started out with something that was already truly an object of beauty: a crumbling old stone barn. With some clever manipulation, they turned the old barn into a light-filled, contemporary living space.

McGarry-Moon, the architects who undertook the project, wanted to preserve the rustic aesthetic of the existing stone structure. They did not, however, want to simply rebuild the past or recreate the building methods that had been used to construct the original barn.

The clients were driven by a desire for a comfortable, understated interior and spectacular views of the surrounding area. The architects came up with a plan to fuse the old building techniques with modern technology to invent a kind of 21st century rural architecture.

Using the existing stone barn structure as a base, a stainless steel frame was inserted within the existing stone walls rather than on top of them. The two-story structure uses all of the older structure’s original door and window openings on the bottom and a modern double-height space for the upper level.

The upper level houses the kitchen, dining and living space at one end; the other end holds the master bedroom and en-suite bathroom. The bedroom end has been cantilevered off of the old stone base to provide more floor space and to add another modern architectural element to the already-impressive home.

The home’s lower level houses two more bedrooms, a bathroom and a utility space. Extensive glazing on two of the sides allows for incredible views of the beautiful landscape while zinc cladding wraps around the bottom, up one side, and over the roof to provide the family with privacy and create a lovely visual contrast with the traditional stone. The home is the perfect melding of old and new, traditional and contemporary.

The post Old Stone Barn Gets a Modern Heart first appeared on Dornob.

It’s unusual to see modern structures set against wide stretches of pasture, desert and other rural settings, but the contrast between the rugged landscape and the sleek, clean lines of the architecture makes for a striking sight. The Glass Farmhouse by Olson Kundig Architects, located in a sparsely populated area of Northeast Oregon, is a notable example.

The small house was conceived as a glass box floating atop the surrounding wheat fields. While it is, in practical terms, a farmhouse, its only resemblance to the more traditional structures associated with this term is the shape. The architects borrowed from the local vernacular of barns for the home’s silhouette and roof.

Opening up to the south, the home faces both the mountains and the sun, adapting to both the cold, snowy winters and the hot, dry summers. Roof overhangs and a light shelf prevent the inside from gaining too much heat in warm weather. Large operable windows make it possible to open the home to the fresh air when conditions permit.

The modernity of the home is especially arresting from afar, when it is seen beside an adjacent barn with the snowy mountains in the distance. At night, it looks like a softly glowing lantern.

“Three sides of the house consist of high-efficiency glass framed with steel; on the north is a solid exterior wall. Inside the transparent shell, living, eating, and sleeping areas surround an enclosure that contains the bathroom, study, and storage. The house rests on a concrete slab supported on a concrete foundation. In this way, the heat-absorbing and—releasing thermal mass is isolated from the ground plane.”

“The window system combines transparency with energy-efficiency. Heat loss and gain is managed largely by the orientation of the house: on the south side, an eyebrow, or light shelf, deflects midday summer sun but admits low-angle winter sunlight.”

The post Glass Farmhouse: Modern Residence in a Rural Setting first appeared on Dornob.

A Flemish barn in the countryside, built in the 1800s, was in desperate need of an update. It sits in a high-traffic area next to an historic farm site, and its crumbling appearance prompted the municipality to look for a way to bring it back to its former glory.

An urban expansion is planned for the area, and part of the reason for the renovation was to strengthen the environment and quality in which the barn sits. The firm Arend Groenewegen Architect was called in to make the changes.

It was decided early on in the planning stages that the barn would be renovated into an office space. The space is segmented into two parts, meant to be used as a flexible office space that can be rented out.

It was important to the parties involved in the project that the re-invented structure be full of light, air and open space. The traditional black wooden slats on the building’s exterior allow in light and plenty of natural ventilation. The traditional thatched roof was completely restored to its historic beauty.

As much of the original structure as possible was left in place, with the floor, ceiling, roof, walls and foundation being entirely redone. A wooden cube occupies part of the ground-floor volume, housing the toilets, pantry, office and ventilation system. Underfloor heating keeps the barn looking sleek as it eliminates the need for radiators.

The project was a huge success in the eyes of local residents. Several open houses and exhibitions have drawn in neighbors who appreciate the renewed beauty of the barn and the positive face it puts on the village.

The post Flemish Barn Renovation Brings New Life to Historic Village first appeared on Dornob.

A dilapidated horse stable in Headborne Worthy, UK has been transformed into a beautiful modern home that keeps the structure’s charming historic elements intact. AR Design Studio saw the potential in this pastoral brick building, which had once been home to a retired champion racehorse in the 1940s but had been allowed to fall into ruin over the decades.

The firm painstakingly removed layers of paint from the wooden and metal surfaces of the stable, restoring them to their original beauty. Beams, stable partitions, wide doors and other original elements of the farm outbuilding now stand in sharp contrast to the expanses of white that surround them, highlighting their pitted and oxidized surfaces.

AR Design Studio added lots of clean lines, smooth walls, and large windows to the space, bringing in views of the surrounding countryside. The floors are made of polished concrete. The kitchen fits into its own stable space, but remains open to the dining room.

Despite the preservation of relatively confined spaces, the rooms feel airy and open, thanks to the color scheme as well as the soaring vaulted ceilings. Just off the tranquil bedroom space is a bathroom in which the horse troughs have been made into sinks.

Outside, the new roof and windows give the converted stable home a fresh look, while the original brick and stone still stand out as telltale signs of the structure’s past.

“AR Design Studio is an award-winning RIBA certified contemporary architectural practice, based in Winchester, Hampshire, specialising in elegant modern new homes, extensions, renovations and multi-plot developments. Established over a decade ago by Andy Ramus, AR Design Studio is a modern architecture practice with a talented, young and ambitious team creating an exciting hub of contemporary architects. After spending four years working for several large scale practices in London on a wide variety of projects, Andy set up his practice in Winchester, Hampshire and Dorset.”

The post Wood Contrasts with White in Converted Stable House first appeared on Dornob.

An 18th century horse stable and coach house has ben converted into a bright, modern home that maintains many of the original historical details of the structure. Zecc Architecten and BYTR Architecten tore out most of the interior, which wasn’t fit for modern living, making a solid oak staircase the centerpiece of the home and contrasting the old rustic beams with new smooth, white surfaces.

Originally built in 1760, the Netherlands structure was brimming with character and interesting architectural details. The tack room became the entrance hall, the coach house the kitchen, and the stable with its original hay racks and troughs the living room.

Demolition revealed some of the structure’s original oversized high doors, which made for ideal transitions between rooms. The staircase functions as a skylight for the kitchen, bringing in daylight from the roof upstairs, with the top half of the risers left open.

These stairs lead to a cozy lounge area with a wood stove, where the original wooden trusses of the space can be seen. The remaining rooms of the home, including bedrooms and bathrooms, are accessible from this space.

From the architects:

“A monumental coach house and stable from 1760 becomes a spacious house. A mishmash of built curiosities is removed. Historical elements became visible again. The stable, still complete with hay racks and troughs, is used as a living room. The tack room becomes the entrance hall and the coach house the new kitchen. Some oversized high doors reappeared during the demolition. This created a surprising connection between living room and kitchen.”

“In this high dimension, a new staircase of solid oak wood is placed as a modern addition. It has become the centre of the house, and daylight falls from the roof into the new kitchen. A double hood with wooden trusses determines the atmosphere upstairs. A seating around a wood stove is added as a pleasant lounge. From here the bedrooms and bathrooms are accessible as well.”

About Zecc Architecten:

“Zecc Architects is founded on January 1st 2003 by Marnix van der Meer and Rolf Bruggink (ROLF.FR). Since 2007 Zecc is leaded by Marnix van der Meer (1972). With a team of approximately 7 enthusiastic people Zecc aims to create clear, sparkling and sustainable buildings. In may 2012 Steven Nobel and Bart Kellerhuis become co-owner of Zecc Architects BV. Along with founder Marnix van der Meer, they recently introduced a three-man board. 10 Years after the first assignment, the office strengthens its basis for further cooperation, new initiatives and of course more great projects.”

The post Historic Horse Stable and Coach House Converted to Home first appeared on Dornob.

The barn on the property had already been converted to a gorgeous vacation home with rich wood floors, exposed timber beams, and classic stone walls. The incredible living space needed some extra room, however, for a modern family and their guests to stretch out into.

The extension project added on a new living area that both complements and perfectly offsets the traditional stone architecture of the original barn. With a green roof, glass walls and stacks of wood that act as half-walls, the extension incorporates nature in a superbly sophisticated fashion.

The stone and wood from the barn continue to play a large part in the interior of the newly-extended living space. However, there is also a very modern element enhanced by contemporary furnishings. The enormous glass walls allow residents to look out from the work space or guest bedroom over the truly awe-inspiring surroundings.

But perhaps most interesting of all is the way in which the converted barn’s modern addition is camouflaged into the landscape courtesy of its flowing green roof. The skylight across the top and a chimney poking out are the only signs the home is even there, when viewed from the peak of the hill.

More from PPA

“The specificity of the extension project is rooted both in the character of its natural setting and that of the existing building, and creates a double bind in terms of both typology and design. The project opposes the powerful architectural presence of the barn against a desire to ‘efface’ the new building and create a ‘topographical feature’ of the utmost discretion. Yet at the same time, its design confronts the barn’s resolute sense of inwardness – protected by thick walls with scarce windows – with a new, more extrovert space, turned outwards towards the panorama of the majestic mountain landscape.”

“As an echo to the tradition for setting mountain shelters against the incline of the hillside, our design explores the idea of partially buried living spaces. This not only enabled us to respect the integrity of the rural site, but also avoid creating a clash between the extension and the existing barn, by greatly reducing the volumetric impact of the new building within the landscape.”

The post An Old Stone Barn Gets a Gorgeous Modern Addition first appeared on Dornob.

Picturesque and idyllic in an organically aged way, there was little about this lot’s aesthetics that Architecture Abaton (images by Bethlehem Imaz) wished to change. On the outside, every attempt was made to preserve the character of this quaint abandoned barn – additions like wood-and-steel doors look intentionally rusticated to match the aged stone walls, while a pool out front appears likewise timeless.

On the inside, simplicity itself: wide-open spaces, but done in stark white to make it fit for dwelling. Concrete comes into play but only as needed, and primarily in inward-facing exterior spaces like the courtyard. Around the property, retaining walls made of local stone are clearly new on close inspection, but again reinforce the original elements as well.

More from Ábaton

“Nestled in a privileged environment in the province of Cáceres, the objective was to transform an abandoned stable into a family home through comprehensive, consistent and environmentally friendly rehabilitation. This work aims to show itself as a non-intervention in the territory and recognizes the pre-existence as a wise position of the human being in nature.”

“After analyzing the typologies of the environment, the orientation -south- and the position of the building -sheltered by the Sierra de Gredos- this rural architecture is recognized as a much more intelligent piece than it may seem at first glance. It is because of this, and because of the beautiful nature in which it is located, that the intervention repeats the existing volumetry and materials.”

“A large central space is built for the living room and the kitchen, around which the different pieces destined for rooms are arranged. Basic materials are worked: water, iron, cement and existing stone; the interior is lightened by replacing the load-bearing walls with light metal pillars. In the patio, a fountain is built where, naturally, water flows from a rock, helping to cool the house in the warmer months. The central space opens completely north-south to enhance the views of the valley and the feeling of living outside.”

The post Surgical Intervention Modernizes Space in an Abandoned Barn first appeared on Dornob.

The post Swooping Curves Transform Old English Barn to New Home first appeared on Dornob.

What do a downtown carriage house and a countryside equivalent have in common? Both residential additions required a massive renovation – and each was addressed by the New York City-based OMAS, which managed to make both converted spaces feel fully a part of the home (something for which neither was initially designed).

Carriage houses, if you’re not familiar, are just what they sound like: outbuildings originally created to house horse-drawn carriages and their related equipment.

In the urban heart of Manhattan, this early-1900s carriage house is not new to radical remodeling. Pealing back the rebuilt layers, the owners and architects uncovered brick, tile and slate walls originally used to divide horses from carriages.

Blackened steel, recycled sherry-cask wood and other vintage (and retro) industrial-style materials were introduced to bridge the gap between historic and modern materials.

Textured plaster and fresh-poured concrete were placed alongside sanded and refinished hardwood floors, blurring the lines between before and after.

Meanwhile, upstate in Narrowsburg, New York, another project is under construction – a farm-friendly carriage house being converted to a contemporary writing studio and guest house space attached to an already-renovated barn building.

Original mortise-and-tenon timber framing is exposed and celebrated in the remodel, while the exterior features a combination of reclaimed wood and stone mixed with modern steel, tin and polycarbonate to protect aging materials.

What is neat about both projects is the emphasis on adaptive tactics and adjustable strategies – a key part of any successful conversion is the response not only to site and context, but what is uncovered (and discovered) during the schematic design phase. After all, until one starts to see first hand what already exists, it is hard to model what can and should be designed to replace it. See more works by OMAS here, and special thanks to Carl and Brian for supplying details and images for this article.

The post No Horsing Around in These Two Carriage House Conversions first appeared on Dornob.

There are plenty of lovely features to faun over in this domesticated version of a modern barn, but what stands out (both literally and otherwise) at first glance is a most unusual move that inverts the typical idea of a viewing platform.  By extending a concrete element out at basement level, residents are able to experience a combination of enclosed privacy and focused views over the water next to which the property sits.

This unusual means of taking advantage of a hillside property with a sloped building site builds into the earth in an unexpected way, creating a private underground corridor that leads from the interior of the house to a secret balcony of sorts. You sure can’t beat those ocean views, can you?

Speaking of ocean views, how often do you hear of a barn that has them? But “Barn Home” by Yukiharu Suzuki & Associates (now known as Nauhaus) is nothing like the farm buildings this word connotes; the latticed timber envelope of the house may have a hint of rusticity, but it’s still beautifully clean and modern. The architects styled the essential structure after the traditional form of a barn, with subtle tweaks to make it feel more homey and welcoming. Industrial details give the result a bit of an edge, and the concrete balcony adds a futuristic touch when viewed from outside.

Spaces between the slats of the timber envelope allow in limited direct and indirect daylight on all sides, depending upon sun angle and time of day, while traditional mobile shoji screens can slide around to subdivide spaces on demand. After dark, the house glows like a lantern. All together, “Barn House” is a wonder of natural daylight, brilliant geometry, clever landscape integration and inspired combinations of materials. This modern Japanese house is located in Hamamatsu City.

The post Underground Balcony: Barn Home with a Twist first appeared on Dornob.

Ever pass by a dilapidated building and think: with some new windows, a roof and some refinishing, this would be a wonderful little home? In this case, a seemingly hopeless little structure became the basis for a beautiful mountain home-away-from-home. This renovated Swiss Alps chalet may have started out pretty rough, but in the end, the views were worth all the hard work to transform it.

Personeni Raffaele Schärer Architectes had to do more than just add a ceiling and fill in window openings, though, going so far as to frame a basements from reinforced concrete and stabilize the old log-cabin walls above via framed supports within.

Inside, the effect is simple – sanded-concrete floors, white walls and staircase, and bleached wood trim feature little additive decor – the scenic vista surrounding this vacation home are all the view one could hope for.

On the outside, a traditional appearance is maintained through the use of local materials. Unobtrusive solar energy supplies the dwelling’s modest power needs.

Wild-growing grass is left uncut, and no landscaping interferes with the natural order of the hillside, making it still look as if this might just still be a relic from another age, abandoned or inhabited by a long-standing mountain dweller.

More info from the architects

“The chalet, is located in the Swiss Alps, in the Herens district, at an altitude of 1850 m. It was used as a shelter for livestock before its transformation into a holiday residence. Very popular in Switzerland, these types of transformations reveal several simultaneous realities. It is a well established fact that the collective status of these shelters often prevails over the individual quality of the object. On the other hand the modern use of the mountain cottage involving weekly round-trips, highlights the improbable all-terrain vehicle in the city and the inevitable garage and retaining wall in front of the mountain chalet. The mountain is not as natural and wild as it used to be in the same manner that cities are not urban enough.”

“The project embraces these different realities in the most surreal manner. On the Inside, the overwhelming view is the only piece of decoration. The picturesque is left behind to make place for a simple, dry and heated shelter. The floor is made out of sanded concrete acquired locally, and the main energy sources are fire for heating and cooking and solar panels for a sufficient amount of electricity. On the outside, the grass grows wildly around the chalet, fences and traditional garden elements are completely missing and blinds are shut during the occupant’s absence. It is hard to find any sign of contemporary life around the place.”

The post Refab Retreat: Cozy Swiss Alps Chalet in a Retrofitted Barn first appeared on Dornob.