The original barnhouse was a u-shaped structure with space for livestock on one side and living quarters on the other, separated by a courtyard and a walkway. One of the arms of the structure was buried into the hillside, leaving only the peaked roof showing from the back meadow. This left the home disjointed from the surrounding land — to update it, Vienna-based Propeller Z designed a modern glass living area adjacent to the barnhouse.
Built on a budget of €70,000, ‘Flag’ adds a new dimension to the existing barnhouse, providing the home with a new space outfitted with modern conveniences. A set of outdoor stairs leads from the barn courtyard up to the new addition, which is constructed from steel, glass, concrete, and locally-sourced wood. The new addition is insulated with recycled newspaper, and the North facade is skinned with a stacked wood in a nod towards stacked firewood used for heating, plus it adds another layer of insulation and protection.
Historic barns and farm buildings have a special charm that can never be duplicated. Its a shame to tear them down, but they leave something lacking in the modern world, like good insulation, lighting, and so on. Propeller Z Architects gave a 200-year old barnhouse in Fahndorf, Austria a green renovation that retained its charm while creating a space where its residents could comfortably live. Spotted over at Designboom, the ‘Flag’ project’s use of local and recycled materials make it even lighter…
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Located in Fahndorf, Austria, ‘Flag’ is a green renovation of a 200 year-old u-shaped barn.
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The historic barn held both livestock and the family’s living quarters. Rather than tear it down, the new owners wanted a modern upgrade that retained the building’s historic charm.
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The new addition fits neatly into the corner of the existing barnhouse, but does not actually touch it.
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The slender, modern addition sits above the existing grade of the barn and is clad in steel, wood and glass.
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Before the addition the barnhouse backed into the earth, leaving only the peaked roof visible from the back meadow. Now the addition helps connect the entire compound to the land.
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The North facade is skinned with a stacked wood in an aesthetic nod towards firewood used for heating, plus it adds another layer of insulation and protection.
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The existing barn remains mostly as-is, and the new addition helps provide a larger protected courtyard below.
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The livestock barn now serves as an outdoor covered living space.
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The living area inside the barn is bright and modern.
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The new addition is located next to the original barn and is accessed via an external covered staircase.
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The new addition looks out over the back meadow through large floor-to-ceiling windows. Recycled newspaper were used to insulate the renovation.
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The entire renovation was completed on a budget of 70,000 euros.
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The new addition houses the kitchen and living spaces of the home.
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