Crumbling Stone Barn Renovated Into Rammed Earth Ihlow House in Germany

A <a href="http://www.zrs-berlin.de/01_website_e/daten/inhalt/menue_02/02_p_architektur/p_architektur_05.html" target="_blank">historic stone barn in Ihlow</a>, Germany has gotten a second lease on life with the addition of a new home and reinforcement of the existing structure. The barn renovation was designed by <a href="http://www.zrs-berlin.de/" target="_blank">Roswag Architekten</a> who crafted a rammed earth addition for the home. The rammed earth and hemp fibre insulation compliment the original stone structure. Meanwhile passive solar design, solar hot water heaters and rainwater collectors minimize the impact of the Ihlow House.

The original stone barn has been renovated with a new addition that takes the place of a former timber addition.

Designed by <a href="http://www.zrs-berlin.de/" target="_blank">Roswag Architekten</a>, the new addition is formed from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rammed-earth" target="_blank">rammed earth</a> on the ground floor and contains an open kitchen and living area with a second floor of private bedrooms.

The barn itself is kept unheated and is partitioned off from the new area with a insulated core and glass wall.

A new roof covers and joins the two volumes into one cohesive building.

Oriented to the east and west, the <a href="http://www.zrs-berlin.de/01_website_e/daten/inhalt/menue_02/02_p_architektur/p_architektur_05.html" target="_blank">Ihlow House</a> first makes use of solar passive heating and cooling with the help of the rammed earth walls to transfer heat.

Ground floor plan.

First floor plan.

Cross section and heating and energy plan.

Site plan.