002 Langstall

Werben (Elbe)

2023-

Aimée Michelfelder
Emily Schlatter
und Jurek Brüggen

The Langstall enables barrier-free, age-appropriate and assisted living in Werben (Elbe). In this way, the town's residents can remain in Werben and in their ancestral environment even in old age. Until now, they had to leave Werben and thus lost their connection to the intact community in the small town.

In the statistical report on population projections by age and gender, it is predicted for the state of Saxony-Anhalt that the proportion of older people in the population will continue to increase. For the district of Stendal, in which Werben is located, the average age is predicted to increase by 2.8 years. At the same time, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) emphasises in a 2022 report that a good social network and community protect older people in particular from loneliness.

The building has already been converted and changed several times in the past. The refurbishment adds another, readable layer of time to this history.

in collaboration with ammi

photos by Hannes Heitmüller

The Langstall was originally planned as a single-storey building in 1897 but was ultimately constructed as a two-storey structure with a slight gable roof, following the guidelines in the Anweisung für Domänebauten (Instructions for Domain Buildings). Over time, the upper floor and roof deteriorated severely, leading to stabilization efforts in 2015. The city has since decided to restore the building to its original single-storey form.

Rather than rebuilding on the existing outer walls, the new roof was placed on steel frames. The grid of the steel structure does not align with the original building layout, resulting in several supports and beams being positioned behind existing openings. The façade also reflects past interventions: some openings were bricked up, while others were significantly enlarged. In addition, the ornamental frieze was damaged during the installation of new rainwater pipes.

The project’s concept centers on preserving the existing, imperfect building fabric as much as possible. The design elements that define the structure’s character—such as the primary forms and materials—will be reconstructed in a sensitive and contemporary manner using recycled materials.
In addition to restoring the existing building, a new, independent volume is introduced into the space. This new structure is constructed entirely from recyclable, standardized timber elements. The design aims to consider material deconstruction and reuse from the planning and construction stages. The building will function as an inhabited material warehouse, where all materials used are digitally catalogued. As a model for a post-carbon built environment, the building is designed to store more CO2 in the form of wood, loose wood wool, biochar, and hemp lime than was emitted during construction.

Alongside the gable walls that define the building’s exterior, the roof tiles will be removed up to the ridge, creating generous private outdoor spaces with views of the inner courtyard. These expansive openings allow for minimal intervention in the protected building fabric while facilitating the assembly of prefabricated wooden elements inside.

Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2025
















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