Conversion of buildings for a new purpose requires a greater degree of intervention than simple refurbishment . to build a corridor inside . Particularly on the second floor , this would have meant a significant impact on the preserved wooden frames . Therefore , we decided to design a separate gallery that serves as a corridor for the upper rooms and creates a desirable threshold on the south side thanks to the dense lathing . The gallery / porch is constructed of second-quality oak lumber , which was originally intended to serve as firewood .
The rooms on the ground floor are accessible directly from the porch . To the north , the steel frames of the former factory windows have been retained . The new windows are behind them . The frames form a grille that acts as a barrier against falling , as the windows have a low sill . At the same time , the openings retain their original divisions . The whole building is wavy due to the pressure of the earth . We have added some support pillars to the north façade to stabilise it . However , in the rooms on the ground floor , you can read a significant leaning of the walls until one has to hold on to keep from tipping .
We were keen to preserve the authenticity of the building as much as possible , which forced us to insulate the inside of the building on the second floor . This left the original wooden , dusty façade in place , which , surprisingly , is still in good shape . The house has therefore not changed much in terms of expression . We kept the trusses in their structural logic . The eastern gable of the building has undergone the most significant transformation , as it is entirely glazed and thus provides distant views over the landscape .
Interior
The rooms on the ground floor are simple bright spaces . The bathrooms are separated by steel frames with frosted glazing , making them well lit .
The upstairs rooms are given authenticity by the exposed beams and original boards , which have been dismantled and used as new flooring .
All this is complemented by plaster moulds which are used as tables , lampshades or purely as objects of aesthetic interest . The moulds that were originally stored here , therefore , remain in place in reduced numbers .
SORTING PLANT
The building of the former sorting plant is the youngest of the whole complex . It dates back to the middle of the last century . Historically , it is the least valuable building , but it is still a fine example of industrial construction at that time , which was purely purposebuilt . Even then , building materials were recycled during construction . Here we have followed a conventional design approach .
Space For Celebration
Industrial buildings are ideally transformed for holding social events . With their open layout , they offer a versatile space that can be filled with events .
The building now houses a restaurant with a kitchen on the ground floor . Adjacent to the restaurant is the greenhouse , which is a simple steel structure that we removed and replaced the roofing with glass . The attic space is accessed by a heavy steel welded staircase , which in turn functions as an art object in its own right . In the attic , there is a large hall to which we have retained its authenticity . All the structures are original with traces of age-old wear and tear .
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