Farm Building Josef Weiss

Loft like living and working space in an old farm building in the city center of Dornbirn, Austria.

The farm building was constructed in 1889 together with the hotel and the winery of Josef Weiss. It is located in the central district of Dornbirn, in close proximity to the main train station. It has been listed as a historic building since 1997 and was therefore protected from demolition. Over the years various projects were planned for the building, but none became reality. As such, it remained vacant until the new owners bought the building in 2016 and carefully rebuilt it into their home and atelier.

By working within the original structure of the building, the building’s spatial particularity could be preserved. The result is an open, loft-like living and working space that includes multi-purpose areas, split levels and open spaces as well as a hidden, private top floor space under the roof. The facade with all its patina was kept unchanged, and all modifications were made from the inside. Inside the existing shell there is also a small, protected outdoor sitting area. Vertical slits in the timber facade enable views to the outside and allow light into the apartment.

The original wooden planks on the floors were numbered, carefully removed, cleaned and subsequently reused as flooring. Portions of the wooden structure, which had to be restored or replaced, are clearly visible as new.