Sealed up and shrouded in former East Germany, this 19th-century traditional farmhouse is given new life in a renovation that celebrates its history.

The renovation restores and reveals the original construction, including the detailed brick exterior and interior timber-framing, and complements it with state-of-the-art sustainable interventions. Solar shingles, integrated into the vernacular roof, are coupled with a geothermal system to achieve net-zero energy consumption. The open plan and double-height space provide a modern layout, while simultaneously exposing traces of the original floorplan through the timber framing. This architectural palimpsest preserves the stories of the past while embracing the present.

This project has been longlisted in the sustainable building category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Architect: Hoff Architects and Sierra Boaz Cobb
Project: House in No Man's Land