A groundbreaking cultural venue set to open in spring 2026 is redefining architectural preservation through cutting-edge technology. The Siedle House in Furtwangen, located in Germany's Black Forest region, represents a remarkable fusion of traditional building methods and avant-garde construction techniques, designed by Berlin-based Brandlhuber architects and executed by Freiburg's hotz + architekten.
The project was commissioned by Gabriele Siedle, who along with her late husband Horst Siedle (1938-2019) spent decades collecting art and planning an exhibition space. The new building will house the Horst and Gabriele Siedle Art Foundation's collection while providing venues for events and educational programs. The Siedle family's intercom manufacturing company has been rooted in Furtwangen for 275 years, making this cultural addition deeply meaningful to the community.
What makes this building truly extraordinary is its innovative approach to architectural memory. Before demolishing the deteriorating villa that previously occupied the site, architects used laser measurement and photogrammetric technology to capture every detail of the old building's facade. Swiss company JBKS created a precise 3D model from this data, which then served as the template for producing 1,067 unique sand-cast plates used to create negative molds of the historic structure.
The result is a stunning interior space where the demolished villa's facade appears as a relief sculpture within the new building's core. This masterfully detailed reproduction captures not just the building's original form but also its imperfections – cracks, holes, and surface irregularities are all preserved in the concrete casting. The technique creates an entirely different impression of the void space, reminiscent of sculptor Rachel Whiteread's work but with its own unique spatial impact.
The building's exterior presents an intriguing interpretation of regional Black Forest architecture, featuring wooden shingles and steep-pitched roofs with traditional snow-retention beams. A record-breaking 100,000 cedar shingles cover the 1,400-square-meter surface area. The honey-colored wood has already begun weathering to pale gray in many areas, and the skillful way the shingles accommodate the projecting dormers demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship.
Advanced engineering solutions were required throughout the construction process. The wooden roof structure, developed in collaboration with Bollinger Grohmann, spans approximately 25 meters and forms the foundation for the shingled roof system. The complex geometry demanded extreme precision in prefabrication, requiring custom manufacturing and sophisticated installation techniques.
The building's glass facade presented particular challenges, as architects wanted it to appear transparent with minimal structural profiles while accommodating the roof's complex geometry. Large polygonal glass panels were specially manufactured for the project, with the largest weighing five tons and measuring 13 meters long by nearly three meters wide. According to Michael Eichmann from the executing firm hotz + architekten, this represents the maximum size possible for such manufacturing. Installation required massive suction systems and allowed virtually no tolerance for error.
Inside, additional technical innovations include a mirror in the foyer that optically doubles the space and appears to float magically on the wall. The building also features 268 custom-made spherical lamps designed by Licht Kunst Licht, creating dramatic illumination effects. A reception desk crafted from recycled plastic waste from Siedle's manufacturing operations demonstrates the project's commitment to sustainability.
The surrounding landscape is being developed according to plans by Berlin's atelier le balto, creating a forecourt and green spaces around the building. Future plans include a new museum trail through Furtwangen, connecting the old locomotive shed and running along the Breg River to a planned university cafeteria.
This remarkable project showcases how contemporary architecture can honor the past while pushing the boundaries of construction technology. The Siedle House stands as a testament to the skilled selection of craftspeople and their expertise, proving that spatial surprises and architectural innovation can emerge from the marriage of traditional building methods and cutting-edge digital fabrication techniques.
