Dating back to 1492, the Vöhlinschloss is a historic castle protected under Denkmalschutz, Germany’s heritage conservation law. Its recent transformation into a refined country residence stems from a sensitive and sustainable renovation – one that restores the landmark’s beauty while balancing historical integrity with contemporary functionality.
Architects Anna Kern and Sebastian Heinzelmann worked closely with skilled craftsmen and specialist planners. They relied exclusively on natural, locally sourced materials – from sand and naturally slaked lime to spruce and oak wood, to conglomerate rock, all sourced from nearby terrain. The result is a place that honours its history while evolving sustainably for the future.
«We believe that working with monuments offers invaluable insight that even innovative construction methods can benefit from. Reuse and resource-efficient practices were once entirely natural». Anna Kern
Original features such as the plank-post wall, timber framing from the building’s early days, and a Rococo stucco ceiling in the main hall coexist with interiors designed to meet modern needs. In the kitchen and dining area, essential lines and pure materials are paired with iconic contemporary furnishings and advanced appliances such as the CombairSteamer V6000 60 and the CombiSteamer V6000 45M PowerSteam.
«Only through collaboration could we restore the Vöhlinschloss. Added to that were our courage and curiosity to explore new experimental building methods». Sebastian Heinzelmann
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Kern Architekten is a German achitecture studio founded in 1986 by Peter Kern, and since 2022 led by Anna Kern and Sebastian Heinzelmann. The duo specialises in heritage conservation and sophisticated renovations, carefully adopting historical structures for contemporary and future use. Their work has earned numerous awards, including the Bavarian State Prize, the Allgäu Timber Construction Award, and several heritage preservation accolades.
