Beim Fuchs

Conversion and renovation of a historically protected farm into offices and commercial space

Location: Münchner Straße 63, 85774 Unterföhring, Germany

Year: 2016-2020

Project: Arge Peter Deck und IFUB*

Team IFUB*: Bernhard Kurz, Moritz Penker, Johannes Krohne

In Collaboration with:
Zuzana Giertlová / Fire Safety Concept
IFB Eigenschenk / Structural Surveying
HFR Ingenieure / Structural Planning
A&A / Heating, Sanitation and Ventilation Planning
IB Lautenschlager / Electrical Planning
luxophil lighting / Lighting Concept

Client: Maria-Theresia Deck

This is what the property looked like at the beginning of the

19th century

- half farm, half Mayoral residence. A bit of local history: the farm’s name, “Beim Fuchs”, (“at the fox’s”) comes not from its (human) residents, but rather from the chestnut-colored horses, so-called “Fuchsn”, that were supposedly very popular on the farm.

The freestanding awning

on the north side of the building was in serious danger of collapse. A clever structural design was used to redistribute the weight, eliminating the need for support columns. A ramp for disabled-access will be installed on the first floor as part of the redesign of this outdoor area.

During the course of the

historically-attentive restoration,

only truly unsalvageable parts of the roof structure were replaced, as can be seen on the old rafters of the awning.

Entering the house through the main entrance, one arrives in the central

corridor.

Here, the vaulted ceilings and tiled floors were restored and the murals were brought back to life. The walls received a fresh lick of paint and the skirting was highlighted in an elegant slate-blue tone.

The original staircase,

which was already well preserved, was carefully restored. Murals were discovered on the walls throughout the hall and stairwell. These were exposed but otherwise left in the condition in which they were found. The skirting was protected with a new coat of paint in a matching color, and works as a unifying element connecting the different levels.

Reaching the upper floor, the eyes are met with a decorated section of wall on which the original skirting has been restored. The painted inserts on the dado imitate various natural stones. Above, floral

ornamentation

with stylized leaves and flowers frames the wall’s surfaces.

The rooms on the ground floor

of the former living quarters showcase quite different floors and ceilings - a reflection of their original use. In two of the rooms, herringbone parquet flooring and ornate ceilings were rediscovered. The ceiling in the kitchen was unadorned, but here the historic tiles could be saved. In another room, the original floor had become dilapidated and was replaced with new herringbone parquet. All the walls in these rooms are, in fact, equally ornately painted. In order to protect these historic features whilst at the same time making the spaces more fitting to their intended use as offices, the walls were coated with a removable soft distemper.

Equally wonderful painted ceilings can be found in

the rooms on the upper floor,

which incorporate different style elements from Baroque to Art Nouveau. The original plank floors throughout this floor were uncovered and painted with a light linseed-oil paint. As on the ground floor, the wall murals were concealed and protected with removable soft distemper. One fascinating discovery was a room that used to be divided in two - something still evident from both the ceiling and the floor.

The attic

over the front of the house had never been developed and was used primarily as storage. Up until now, that is. Everything other than the staircase, which already existed, was designed new to fit the style of the period. For this reason, the new spruce floor is painted with linseed-oil paint in the same shade as on the upper floor. As was the case throughout the rest of the house, special emphasis was placed on ecological building materials and a complete avoidance of plastics.

This original

cistern,

found in the attic, is evidence that the farm was truly ahead-of-its-time. Back in the day, it provided the residents with running water long before such was the norm. Even now, the cistern contributes to the well-being of the new residents - tipped on its side, it has been converted into a comfortable sofa, complete with feet and cushions.

The year of construction had been immortalized on the historic rafters with the inscription “Prosit 1900”. To honor the new stage of life,

“Secundum 2018”

was added to one of the new beams for the topping-out ceremony.

A detail of the beautifully designed transition from

granite column

to vault, visible in the former barn.

A view through the entire building is also possible from the former

hayloft

at the rear of the building. Previously difficult to access, the room is now connected to the hallway on the upper floor, but also accessible via its own external staircase. Formerly designed to optimize the circulation of air, the installation of windows and skylights means this room is now all about capturing light. New underfloor heating, combined with the insulation in the roof and interior walls, means the owners have endless possibilities when deciding how to use this space in the future.

The old

hay loader,

complete with ladder and conveyor belt, was preserved and made secure. The hatch to the roof was glazed and converted into a “light house”, bringing in additional light during the day and acting like a lantern in the evening.

A shower room

for the staff was also created. The blue murals that were exposed here harmonize perfectly with the tiles chosen for all of the WCs and washrooms on the ground floor. Oiled oak shelves and trim create a clean transition between old and new.

In the course of the renovation, the building’s technical facilities were comprehensively updated. To this end, the coal and potato cellars were spruced up and converted into

utility rooms.