An old farm in Austria was transformed into a home, bridging historical memory and contemporary design

In response to the growing number of abandoned rural buildings, the Dirnbergergut project by Moser und Hager Architects was tasked with respecting the historical memory of the place while simultaneously infusing it with new vitality through a simple yet contemporary design. In the Austrian countryside north of the Danube River, two buildings of an old farmstead have been transformed into three residential units. The idea was to enhance the structure of the former barn by preserving the thick masonry walls of brick and stone and inserting a new, self-contained volume within the outer shell.

To achieve this, the architects left a gap between the new volume and the existing walls, creating a covered walkway and spatial extensions. This design choice simultaneously establishes a threshold between inside and outside and fosters a continuous dialogue between old and new.
The newly inserted volume is expressed through simple forms, large openings, and wooden cladding that contrasts with the colors of the old barn. The ground floor, as well as some wall sections, make use of exposed concrete, forming a continuous surface that acts as both a new inhabited ground and reinforcement for some vertical structures.

The floor plan of the intervention results in a fluid and open layout, with the dark volume of the new insertion at its core, while functions related to domestic life and the surrounding landscape unfold around it.
The restrained appearance of the intervention reflects a sensitivity toward historic architecture and offers a new way of rethinking how we live within these ancient landmarks of rural areas.