the historic row of houses at Oberamteistraße 28–32 and the basement of the stone house, which stood on plot no. 34, are among the oldest half-timbered houses in southern germany. they are authentic evidence of construction processes and lifestyle in the middle ages. restoration works include renovating the historic buildings and constructing a new one on the site of a former corner house. the renovated complex serves as a museum featuring the historic buildings as exhibits.
the architectural design by Wulf Architekten ensures barrier-free access to the historic buildings, with extensive space for a wide range of events, meetings, creative activities and cultural gatherings. the internal structure consists of a local european pinewood frame defining the lost shape of the historic house.
the roof and façade surfaces are lined with a uniform layer of cast glass tiles in the shape of beavers’ tails. depending on incident light, reflections and interior lighting, the wooden frame either stands out or merges into the background, thus conveying the effect of a translucent or sparkling construction. the new building requires no thermal insulation or air conditioning. it also serves as protection for the historic basement. open joints along the entire external perimeter ensure natural ventilation and smoke extraction without the need for mechanical systems. the choice of sustainable materials and construction strategies steered the lighting design towards selecting fixtures that could ensure both the highest light quality and high levels of efficiency. integrated into the wooden beams, a special version of n55 light fittings – adapted specifically for this project – illuminate the space without being prominent. the artificial light blends into the architecture, harmoniously merging with natural light as well. inside, the delicate tones of wood, glass and pale concrete are not overpowered by aggressive beams of light. observed from the outside, the entire building resembles a lantern.



