An 18th-century barn in rural Germany, designed by Piertzovanis Toews finds new life through the hands of its owners, melding history and modernity in a testament to time, craft, and architectural care.
The site, an 18th-century mill transformed into a family home, speaks to the tension between preservation and contemporary living. What sets this project apart is not its ambition to preserve a historical monument in pristine form, but rather its embrace of the imperfections that come with age, time, and personal involvement. Erika and Willi, the owners, took on this renovation largely by themselves, navigating a maze of practical challenges with an irreverent sense of adventure and a limited budget. Their sensitivity to the building’s past is evident in their decision to leave certain structural elements exposed—such as the thick stone walls and warped oak beams—while threading modern touches throughout the design.
The heart of the barn is its central, L-shaped room, once used for storing hay, which now plays host to a series of “houses within a house,” each color-coded and representing different functional zones. The yellow loggia, for instance, plays a dynamic role in linking interior and exterior space, while the lilac glass walkway injects a bold streak of contemporary energy into the otherwise muted historical palette. The interplay of colors and materials evokes a sense of playful domesticity, while the conscious decision to minimize new openings preserves the integrity of the original structure. The new skylight, however, running the length of the building, provides an elegant solution to the need for natural light, without compromising the building's historical fabric.
The owners' hands-on approach adds a profound layer of intimacy to the renovation. From sandblasting wood beams to assembling kitchen fittings, Erika and Willi's involvement recalls the spirit of a time when craftsmanship was an intrinsic part of building. The manual, at times chaotic, process of self-construction mirrors the unpredictability of the structure itself. There’s an almost cinematic quality to their endeavor, reminiscent of the slapstick comedy of Buster Keaton’s One Week, where confusion and near-disasters abound. Yet, unlike the film's destructive finale, this project celebrates the beauty of imperfection, where every handmade detail echoes the passage of time and the patient labor of human hands.
