How German Homeowners Built Their Dream House with Architectural Manuals.

Nearly four years ago, an intriguing experiment began in the vineyards of Albisheim, Germany. Erika and Willi embarked on a DIY renovation journey, transforming an 18th-century barn into a very special home—with limited funds, modest craft skills, and sheer determination as their primary tools.

The barn, nestled in a village surrounded by Riesling and Chardonnay vineyards, forms part of an ensemble around an ancient mill. Despite multiple alterations over centuries, its character remains: thick stone walls, sturdy oak framework, and clay roof tiles telling tales of bygone harvests.

The real story began during the renovation process itself. Basel-based architects Piertzovanis Toews prepared illustrated step-by-step manuals, transforming what could have been architectural chaos into a measured, patient endeavour. Every element except heating and windows was executed by Erika and Willi themselves, making this project as much about the process as the final product.

Stories On Design // Barn House Conversions.

Barns remind me of my childhood, as houses in where my grandparents used to live, and some of my family still do. I've grown up knowing so many barns looking like the "before shot". Seeing ultra sharp, modern examples married with traditional rural settings is incredibly heart warming.

Erika and Willi’s barn before the conversion.

The barn’s most striking feature is its central L-shaped space, formerly used for hay storage. Here, the architects created four distinct colour-coded “houses within the house”—a yellow loggia functioning as an internal glass house, a green kitchen occupying its own zone, a pale red stairhouse, and a lilac glass walkway connecting to the courtyard. These zones transform the space while respecting the warped roof trusses and height differences that give the building its historic character.

Natural light became a critical element. As a listed building, new openings were restricted, making the full-length skylight an essential intervention. Inner windows, sized larger than existing openings, frame the rough brickwork, blurring boundaries between inside and outside. Bedrooms anchor the L’s extremities, preserving the central space’s openness—a design decision that celebrates the barn’s original proportions.

Celebration of handcraft really stands out in this project. From the initial sandblasting that revealed the wood’s original grain to the manual printing of images, every step honours irregularities and marks of time. The result wasn’t about perfect finishes or machine precision but rather about embracing the beautiful imperfections of human touch.

Hourré House in Labastide Villefranche, France by Collectif Encore.

Inspired by it’s crumbling state, this farmhouse in Labastide Villafrench is transformed into a two-storey family home patchworked with exciting potential.

Perhaps the most significant achievement isn’t the transformation itself, but proving that with time, patience, and proper guidance, ambitious architectural projects can succeed despite limited experience and resources. In an age of instant gratification and professional dependency, Erika and Willi’s barn stands as a study in what persistent determination can achieve.

Their journey, supported by sensitive architectural guidance, demonstrates that expertise doesn’t always mean taking over—sometimes it means empowering others to create something extraordinary themselves. Representing so much more than a beautifully converted barn, the result is a narrative about the possibilities of collaboration, patience, and the enduring appeal of doing things by hand in our digital world.

Art Barn by Thomas Randall-Page for his Artist Father.

Good things happen to those who wait and this little slice of shire county has grown and evolved into a calm and beautiful space, brimming with possibility.

[Images courtesy of Piertzovanis Toews. Photography by Simone Bossi.]