Reframing Zahrádky

Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

Project idea

Draft
The special circumstances resulting from the general condition of the buildings on the site call for a tailored approach to restoration and revitalization. The design that has been developed is the outcome of a process focused on analyzing the historical building fabric. This involves identifying what can and should be preserved while ensuring the quality of the existing structures. Special attention is also given to the existing damage. The goal is not to eliminate all visible signs of decay, but rather to incorporate them as part of the buildings’ narrative.
The interventions undertaken for this purpose are therefore kept to a minimum and primarily serve to preserve the existing substance and reactivate areas that had fallen out of use. Essential measures—such as reinforcing and insulating the emergency roof of the castle—are implemented in conjunction with the continued use of the existing load-bearing structure. The fire that destroyed the castle’s original roof is thus integrated into the conservation strategy as a central theme of the renovation. The building’s history becomes the guiding principle for all conservation efforts. Even if the changes made to the buildings are not immediately striking, each one is carefully considered and contributes to the overall concept. In this way, the historic facades can also be retained. The design deliberately avoids overbuilding and major exterior alterations. Demolition is carried out only where it is truly necessary and where it opens up new architectural possibilities.

Intervention. Making a strategy of an intervention defining the essential actions, whereas they are more conservative or not.

Context. Affecting the surroundings positively, establishing an interesting and intense -tense if needed- dialogue with the context.

Sustainability. Working multifaceted on a project which is environmentally sustainable, regarding the work on the existing as well as the new intervention.

Project description

In Detail

Castle Building
To meet the required spatial program of the competition without interfering with the valuable building fabric through major interventions, the design follows the approach of “adding to it.” Only a few structurally and spatially insignificant walls are removed from the building volume, opening up the rooms while adapting them to their new use.cWooden boxes are then placed in the cleared spaces within the existing building. Thanks to their simple design and modularity, the boxes allow for a variety of room uses through different floor plans and layouts. They provide sleeping spaces for 120 people on the upper two floors in various configurations. Two barrier-free apartments are located on the ground floor. Since the boxes are insulated and raised off the floor, they function as self-sufficient units within the castle shell.
As the interior space of the castle is limited by the historic fabric, which is to be preserved, a large wooden structure is placed in the inner courtyard to house the required lecture hall for an audience of 100 people, along with two smaller halls with capacities of up to 50 people. The courtyard is transformed into a social space for all visitors without compromising any of the historic building fabric. The remaining interior space is used to accommodate other functions, such as a restaurant and an exhibition area, without the use of the “add-in boxes.” These areas make deliberate use of the patina found on the damaged interior surfaces of the building. The decision not to conceal all of these “wounds,” but rather to preserve them, highlights the significance of these surfaces as the skin of the building. Key rooms such as the historic entrance hall remain untouched. The spatial effect of these rooms should not be disrupted by unnecessary intrusions.

Farmhouse
On the farmhouse premises, the only major architectural intervention of the design takes place. The complex is intended to house new exhibition areas that showcase the history of the property and the village. After assessing the condition of the building, a decision has been made to demolish the western part of the house. Its poor state and overall quality, combined with further plans for the eastern section of the farmhouse, justify this step. Since the old stables are part of the complex, the aim is to integrate them into the exhibition following the removal of the dilapidated structure. To that end, the ground floor walls are being made visible through various plantings, creating a garden. This garden also frames the inner courtyard of the old farmhouse, turning the entire outdoor area into an extension of the exhibition.
The eastern part of the farmhouse is set to be preserved in the same way as the castle building. Only a few interior walls will be removed to make the space more accessible and suitable for housing a rotating exhibition, a municipal information center with a bookshop, and a café on the ground floor. The café is located in the southern wing of the farmhouse, again within a wooden structure, creating a unique atmosphere. All interior areas have access to the courtyard, which serves as the heart of the community and an outdoor exhibition space.
The upper floor features a large lecture hall, several group and meeting rooms, and additional space for the permanent exhibition. The existing staircases will be used to connect the different zones, allowing visitors to move freely through the upper rooms.

Orangery
The orangery is transformed from an uninviting, empty ruin into a multi-purpose event venue. To enable this transformation, the existing steel structure spanning the main hall is utilized to support a glass façade with retractable sun shading. The original gallery overlooking the main space is restored to accommodate additional visitors during events, offering a unique view over the main room and outward toward the park. A new staircase is installed in the vestibule to provide access to the gallery. Behind the main event hall, visitor restrooms and storage areas are integrated into the rear extension of the building, making full use of the existing structure. From the outside, only preservation work is carried out to maintain the building’s unique character, including the original chimneys and windows.

Conclusion
The draft has a different approach to the different building types on the property. It is supposed to be a bridge between conservation and revitalization with the goal to unlock architectural potential through preserving its history. It is a strategy to minimize the interventions needed to achieve that goal while offering a lot of quality to the visitors.

Technical information

The project is designed with a focus on minimal structural intervention and reversible additions. All new elements, including the wooden “add-in boxes” and courtyard structures, are prefabricated timber modules to ensure efficient on-site assembly and reduce impact on the historic fabric. Existing load-bearing walls and structures are preserved wherever possible. The new installations meet current building regulations, including fire safety and accessibility standards. Thermal insulation is integrated into new components without altering the original building envelope. Technical infrastructure such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems is routed through the new elements to avoid interference with the historic substance.

Documentation

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