Studio Noun

Description

The Wöschhüsli has seen a series of different uses and structural changes during its long history. With its conversion, the Eppenberger Foundation for the Toggenburg has now given the building a new life. As a witness to Nesslau’s local building culture, the Wöschhüsli looks back on centuries of existence. The historic core remains untouched by the necessary remodelling measures, and the massive barrel vault refers back to the time when the Wöschhüsli was built in the 18th century while at the same time representing the transition to something new. All structural interventions are oriented along the original contours of the building. New extensions create a bakery on the south side and a commercial unit opposite. To accommodate this new public space, the volume extends towards the street and opens by lifting the roof. As a contrast to the compact vaulted space, the extension creates a double-height open area that invites people in and mediates between the street and the interior. On the longitudinal façades, new entrances create quality outdoor areas towards the church and station, providing a new social space for Nesslau. By exploring the boundaries between conservation and new construction, the project takes its cue from traditional building culture and combines it with new spatial and social qualities.