Hofwirtschaft Elgass

Hofwirtschaft Elgass: A new simple building, inspired by the agricultural context, is deliberately placed at the original location of the rural barn. This preserves the space effect and intends a pleasant interaction of the two structures. The listed main building and the new accommodation wing complement each other to form a beautiful ensemble of buildings, reinforcing each other in their architectural and spatial impact.

The new building delicately adapts the proportions and material of the original farm building, building on a clear rectangular floor plan and simple saddle roof construction, thereby preserving the rural scale. The chosen simple typology addresses the rural element and the country environment in which the Ellgass family has its roots and still lives.

To the side of the square, the pedestal training in the existing main building is architecturally taken, but interpreted in a modern way and designed as a glazed facade. This opens the interior to the square and at the corner of it a new contemporary accent is set.

The facade design plays with the theme of the formwork, which was already the central facade design element of the agricultural building.

From a flat formwork, this mutates into a spatial formwork. This is pulled like a net around the whole building and leads on the gable sides to a multi-layered facade - formwork / balcony / glazed room closure of the rooms - with views from the rooms through the vertical formwork onto the town square of the village.
Due to this reinterpretation, especially the gable facades retains its rural style. This withdrawal and intentional reduction in formal language enhances the effect of the traditional ”Lüftlmalerei” of existing buildings.

A completely glazed connection between the two buildings closes the space even better, but leaves the town-planning, spatially typical gap between the buildings in the square. The positioning of the main entrance and the opening from the side of the square further enhances this space.

An important fact to point out is the spirit of sustainability, which was applied as good as possible. Which means that all wood materials of the existing office building were carefully removed, safely stored and then, where possible, reinstalled in the new building. Thus, a part of the natural and weathered external formwork in the interiors should be reused and installed as a wall paneling, beams of the roof structure to be carved and used as a construction for the Finn sauna in the spa. As insulation wood fiber insulation boards are provided.

Part of the existing slurry pit is cleaned and reused as a retention tank for the collection of surface waters.

This sustainable use of materials and the use of natural building materials is part of the peasant world and should reflect the respect for nature and land and the conscious preservation of the cycle of nature.