Gut Hochreute, Immenstadt (DE)
New building,
Further construction,
Historic preservation,
Refurbishment
Client: Buddhism Foundation Diamantweg
Location: D-87501 Immenstadt, Hochreute 1
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller with Roland Gnaiger
Competition: 2009, 1. prize
Construction: 2013 – 2015
Area: 4,300 m²
Ecology: Passive house standard
Programme: New building: residential wing with 50 guest rooms, seminar rooms; old building: foyer, dining hall and kitchen, meditation hall (gompa)
Photos: David Matthiessen, Dietrich Untertrifaller
Team
Tamara De Sousa, Eva Dorn, Felix Kruck, Bernd Müller, Günther Prechter (Project management), Sebastian Rohse
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics: gbd, Dornbirn
Building services: Mayer, Ottobeuren
Light: Pfarré, Munich
Landscape: Barbara Bacher, Linz
Awards
- thomaswechspreis, Award
Historic estate with new residential wing
The expansion of the former Hochreute model estate into the European centre of a Buddhist foundation presented us with a special challenge. The task was to create a prestigious address out of the listed ensemble and the new buildings, a spiritual centre with a meditation hall, accommodation for guests and seminar rooms of various sizes.
Our approach leaves the historic courtyard complex from 1910 completely untouched. An L-shaped, two-storey residential wing, partially integrated into the slope, adjoins the former farm building and forms its own courtyard. Both courtyards are connected to each other and, with their differentiated open spaces, offer ideal conditions for seminars. The spatial structure is clear and uncluttered: the centre of the Buddhist community in the barn, seminar, residential and guest rooms in the new building around the courtyard.
Meditation hall under the mighty roof
The former farm building was completely remodelled. The stable on the ground floor was converted into a foyer, dining hall and central kitchen. The entire upper floor with the impressive, exposed roof truss now serves as the central meditation hall (gompa).
Thanks to the generously glazed extension with the emergency staircases, we were able to preserve the entirety of the 550 m² column-free space under the mighty saddle roof.
Roof truss dismantled and restored
The timber construction of the enormous, column-free grainloft on the upper floor extends to below the roof ridge. This important example of early timber engineering had the advantage that the roof truss could be easily "unscrewed" and dismantled. The individual parts were transported to the drying chamber for renovation. A few new timbers were added and the roof was then erected again.
The low residential and seminar wing with its green flat roof partially disappears into the slope. A well-designed lighting concept ensures a bright, friendly atmosphere.
Between the concrete wall facing the slope and the corridor of the guest rooms, daylight enters the interior of the building across two storeys.
The seminar rooms and flats open up to the courtyard with spacious terraces and balconies, which is bordered by a pergola towards the valley, framing the view of the lake and mountains.
