Page 124 - AIT0725_E-Paper

WOHNEN • LIVING INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES

Niedrige Badezimmertür in historischer Dimension • Low bathroom door preserved in its historical dimensions

Fotos: Nicolas Felder

Das barocke Grün betont Türen und Stufenführung. • Baroque green highlights doors and stairs. Wiederhergestellte Farbigkeit in der ehemaligen Rauchküche • Restored colour scheme in the former smoke room

T he Vöhlin Castle spans a ground floor of nearly square footprint with a partial under- from the winter of 1491–1492; other samples point to Baroque interventions in 1725–1726
ground level, two upper floors, a converted attic and an unheated roof space. Small-
and 1760–1761. The timber beams above the first floor and a medieval stud wall belong to
scale window openings, rendered façades, and two corner towers with loopholes give the the original structure. In addition to the constructional elements, an exceptionally large
building its characteristic defensive appearance. The south-eastern tower is topped by a amount of original render from the late 15th century has survived. The ground and first
pointed roof, while the north-western one ends in a metal-clad roof terrace. On the north floors, in particular, include preserved original storage and utility rooms with smoothed
and south sides, a dormer projects from the gabled roof; three garderobe oriels on the wall surfaces and simple finishes. The Baroque modifications to the upper floors can be
east and a fourth on the north further articulate the structure. Construction began around clearly assigned to two execution distinct phases. Structural reinforcement required the
1470 under Leonhard Vöhlin. The original building comprised a residential storey on the underpinning of the foundations with concrete grout and stainless steel tie rods to ensure
second floor, with storage and utility spaces below, and was completed in 1493 with bearing capacity of the base. Additionally, a reinforced concrete ring beam was installed
the addition of a two-storey pitched roof. The first Baroque transformation, beginning in above the ground floor ceiling to absorb horizontal thrust from the vaults. Additional tie
1725, focused mainly on the second floor and brought stylistic modifications as well as rods and selective reinforcement with steel beams and columns in ceilings and corridor
the addition of the garderobes. In 1760, the attic was converted with the addition of the walls help to relieve the masonry and the dormer supports. The historical plaster sur-
banqueting hall and dormers. The structure remained largely unchanged into the 20th faces were stabilised with injections and structural consolidation, then reworked with a
century, resulting in an unusually high proportion of original building elements. compatible slaked lime render – all in line with restauration standards. A sample area
measuring around four square metres allows the late medieval period to be further expe-
Survey, restoration strategy and material concept rienced. The composition of the new render was based on the original: lime putty was
combined with sand-based aggregates and processed into a moist rendering mix. The
Prior to restoration, a deformation-accurate 3D laser scan survey was conducted. As the external surface received a white limewash, but ornamental elements such as rustication
castle and its surroundings are listed as both a built and archaeological monument, all or outlining were not reconstructed. In the smoke room on the second floor, the original
excavation works were carried out under archaeological supervision. Core drilling and red paint finish – made from natural pigments – was faithfully recreated. Existing clay
test trenches were used to assess structural stability. Dendrochronological analysis con- and lime layers were retained and stabilised. A lime-stabilised earth floor replaced the
firmed the building phases: timber samples from the roof structure and floor beams date bare soil on the ground floor and now permanently contributes to a balanced indoor

124 • AIT 7/8.2025