BAC | bruna studio

The historic farmstead is situated on a small rise, with an orchard meadow stretching out in front, surrounded by a forest clearing within a protected landscape area.

Prior to the intervention, the farmhouse had stood vacant for decades, while the adjacent barn and hayloft had fallen into disrepair. The revitalization of the property began with the residential building, with the aim of bringing the farmstead back into active use and cultivation.

The farmhouse had been constructed on a rocky foundation and was, in essence, well preserved. However, it was not a listed building, and the owners found it difficult to imagine contemporary living within its existing structure. There was neither heating nor sanitary infrastructure. As a result, the preservation of the existing fabric was initially called into question.

The revitalization process therefore began with raising awareness of the existing building. It involved recognizing both the opportunity and the responsibility of preserving and continuing a legacy of local building tradition. It meant accepting the challenge of compromise, as working with an existing structure requires embracing what is already there. At the same time, it fostered an appreciation for the unique quality that emerges when old and new are brought together.

The architectural language employed in the renovation and extension of the historic structure is deliberately restrained and repeatedly references the building as it was found. The project seeks to reconnect with the simplicity of local vernacular architecture and carry it forward into the present.

Only a few locally sourced yet durable materials were used. All timber originates from the surrounding forest and was employed in solid form, with minimal surface treatment wherever possible. Characteristic construction details were adopted and reinterpreted. Original elements were reinstated whenever feasible.

The stone masonry was stabilized through mortar injections and insulated externally with insulating plaster. The timber beam ceiling was reinforced with a composite structural layer and stabilized using wall anchors. The size of the façade openings at ground-floor level was retained. Only on the north side was a large window added, opening views toward the forest. The roof structure was completely dismantled and rebuilt. The new upper-floor walls and the lateral extension were constructed in solid timber, while the roof was executed as a traditional rafter roof.

The light lime-rendered façade, the characteristic half-hipped roof, the small window openings, the green box-frame windows, and the pattern of the timber cladding define the building’s external appearance and were already present in the original structure. The sun-weathered larch-wood entrance door was insulated and reinstated, as was the cellar door. A small side extension also existed in the original building. It has now been enlarged to accommodate the new bathrooms. While subordinate to the main volume, it possesses its own identity and character through its façade, entirely clad in larch timber board-and-batten siding, and its distinctive circular window opening.

Exposed stone walls define the character of the cellar spaces on the ground floor. In several places, the rocky subsoil extends into the interior, revealing the geological origin of the porphyry stone used for the masonry.

The living spaces are reached via a staircase and the traditional 'Solder' (external gallery). The original room layout was largely preserved, although the former small chambers were translated into a more open spatial concept.

A central 'Labe' forms the entrance area, incorporating a cloakroom, the firing point for the traditional masonry stove, and the staircase leading to the upper floor. Separated from this space by a full-height built-in cabinet is the kitchen with its dining area. On the opposite side of the entrance area, the living room and traditional 'Stube' occupy a separate room.

The interior is characterized by the interplay between old and new. The flooring, interior doors, the traditional parlour, and selected pieces of furniture originate from the existing house and were reinstated. New interventions remain clearly identifiable through their materiality and detailing.

On the upper floor and within the attic level, spruce timber predominates. All surfaces of the library and bedrooms were consistently crafted from solid local spruce, creating a homogeneous envelope that defines the atmosphere of the spaces.