Loft in the Barn

Design: The project is a statement for minimalism in buildings and proves that great indoor environment qualities can be achieved through simple means. The newly created room serves as a base framework for variable uses. A generous open room without any walls – except for a room-in-room solution accommodating side rooms and the stairs to the gallery. The loft is characterized by its large glass facade to the south of 8x4 meters, allowing for an extensive view of the village and the mountains. The project deliberately went without hidden services and interior finishing. The concrete floor on the ground level, colored by the soot from the old barn, and the massive timber beam ceiling up on the gallery are essential to the refined timber frame construction. By opting against the use of a standardized interior finishing, the raw surfaces and natural materials define the atmosphere and charm of the building.

Wood: The timber frame construction featuring cellulose insulation uses rough-cut massive timber boards with a width of up to 46 centimeters. The trees were selected and cut down in the forest of the building owners' family (to quote the building owner: “Sure, I can show them to you, tree stump and all.”) and processed by the local carpenter.