stajnia przebudowana na dom
Fot. Eric Tschernow

they turned a 120-year-old stable into a house. The building has retained its historic character

An old farm building located in the village of Lanke in the Brandenburg March region, half an hour north of Berlin, has become a new home and workplace for the client. The history of the site, which in the 1950s ceased to serve its previous function as, among other things, a stable, has been revived thanks to a carefully thought-out adaptation carried out by Christoph Wagner Architekten.

The former stables – architecture with history

In the post-war years, an outbuilding from the early 20th century that had served as a workshop and stables was converted into a residential building and divided into four units. During a recent redevelopment, one of these was left intact, allowing the existing occupant to continue living there. The remaining spaces were converted into a two-storey 140sq m flat and a goldsmith’s studio. A key consideration in the design was to preserve the authentic character of the house, with its visible layers of time and history. Instead of a full renovation, minimal but thoughtful interventions were opted for.

Photo by Eric Tschernow

stajnia przebudowana na dom

Zobacz

Conversion of an old building

Alterations were only carried out where they were necessary for structural reasons. For example, cracks in the masonry were repaired only where they needed strengthening, and large sections of the building were left virtually intact. One of the most striking features of the project became a new, asymmetrical circular window, located in the gable wall, which lets morning light into the interior. The window frame was made from solid wood, which was milled to fit the glass in without the need for additional elements. The circular moulding was produced from brass by a friendly blacksmith, highlighting the unique character of the piece.

The former stable in the new

The biggest technical challenge was to create a wide terrace window on the south elevation and an opening in the ceiling for the new staircase. In order to maintain the stability of the double layer of external wall masonry, an externally placed balcony structure was used, avoiding the use of internal supports. The staircase, made with great precision, marks the privacy boundary on the first floor. The lateral support of the upper flight of stairs acts as a shield, and its form delicately marks the space. Materials from the demolition were used in the design, including bricks as partition walls and reclaimed parquet floors. The floor construction, consisting of glass aggregates and a regional mix of clay and hemp shive, required no insulating layers.

stajnia
Photo by Eric Tschernow

Philosophy of architecture

Christoph Wagner Architekten emphasises understanding the character of buildings, which allows them to be harmoniously adapted to new functions. According to the office, the house in Lanke is a project in progress – architecture that evolves with its users and is never ‘finished’. It is an example of a gentle transformation that respects the building’s past while giving it new life. Through attention to detail, minimal interventions and a sustainable approach, the site’s history has been given a new chapter that will continue for generations to come.

Design: Christoph Wagner Architekten
Team: Stefan Tietke, Rainer Krautwurst, Nabih Alshaikh
Location: Lanke, Germany
Year of construction: 2024

Read also: Single-family house | Metamorphosis | Brick | Germany | Stone | whiteMAD on Instagram