Toppendorf ruin
Outdoor Residence for Hikers
As one of the main projects at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, we sought a new purpose for the Toppendorf ruin. Focusing on the experience of spending time outdoors in nature, we designed an open structure made of steel to shelter guests from rain, wind, and heavy sun while keeping them permanently connected to the surrounding nature.
It offers groups of friends from Halle and Leipzig a unique recreational experience in the idyllic Saale Valley. The modular framework blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Its strict grid gently overlays the existing ruin, connecting the courtyard setting with the classic functions of an interior space. The structure protects against wind, rain, and sun, yet still gives visitors the feeling of being outdoors. The camp-like atmosphere is completed with two fire pits, a sauna, and a hot tub. Rustic, like camping in the forest, everything here is done manually – cooking on a stove, heating the sauna and hot tub with a wood-fired oven. Bathing and showering are done with collected rainwater. The photovoltaic modules provide electricity for lighting and charging devices.
Team:
Valentina Gürtler, Pepe Nitz
Professor and Assistant:
Prof. Robert Laser – Bla-Architekten and Jannis Block
