| 25
The new carriage house for Bedheim Castle by Studio Gründer Kirfel was largely self-built in collaboration with students and craftsmen. Dubbed >Sch(l)afstall< by IBA, this utility building continues the tradition of timber construction in rural areas.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The old manor Bedheim Castle is home to Studio Gründer Kirfel, housing apartments and providing space for architectural debates and exhibitions.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
Far from major cities, the architects have the space to realize their visions here.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
In addition to monument preservation, the core themes of the group of architects, artists, and craftsmen include solidarity and social agriculture, rural rental housing construction, and academic feedback. Hand and head should come together here at the location.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The studio consistently focuses on the artistic communication of its themes; from 2014 to 2015, an installation matching the IBA themes was on display in the castle garden..
©Studio Gründer Kirfel
The Bedheim Declaration of 2015 calls on the professional discipline to follow suit, stating that "creative work with a focus on world events is also possible from the village. Life in the countryside allows for tranquility, foresight, and concentration on the essence of things."
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
With the start of construction in 2017, Studio Gründer Kirfel finally tested the maxims of their building culture for themselves. 
© Studio Gründer Kirfel
The 7.5 by 24 meter Sch(l)afstall was built on the natural stone foundation of the old barn of the castle complex.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
By June 2017, the timber frame construction was complete, and the topping-out ceremony could be celebrated.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The Sch(l)afstall was consistently realized in a simple design and using sustainable materials as far as possible. The framework consists mainly of the same cross-sectional construction timber.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
Construction managers Philipp Bader, architect, and Albert Liebermann, bookbinder, led the project team, which built the building through self-construction and with the assistance of numerous students.
© Studio Gründer Kirfel
Thanks to the help of traveling carpenters, the timber frame construction was completed in just four weeks. Specialized companies were called in when specific expertise was needed.
© Studio Gründer Kirfel
In October 2018, the "Sch(l)afstall" opened. This was followed by the 3rd Bedheimer Kamingespräch  with a visit from Japan.
© Sebastian Schells
According to DAM, the Sch(l)afstall has a leverage effect. It embodies many aspects that are hard to imagine in our current time, benefiting both economic and ecological construction principles.
© Sebastian Schells
In addition to a dormitory and a guest room, there is a spacious kitchen In In addition to a dormitory and a guest room, there is a spacious kitchen, which also serves as a common room and occasionally as an exhibition space. Sanitary facilities and storage areas for the adjacent garden café complete the program.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
East view of the "Sch(l)afstall" with a view into the communal kitchen.
© Sebastian Schells
The  dark house on the outside surprises with bright rooms on the inside.
© Sebastian Schells
The large kitchen on the ground floor serves as both a lounge and as an exhibition space.
© Sebastian Schells
In addition to the kitchen, guests can use the dormitory on the top floor.
© Sebastian Schells
The walls of the "Sch(l)afstall" were whitened with a marble-lime-casein paint on the inside.
© Sebastian Schells
Anika Gründer and Florian Kirfel-Rühle from Studio Gründer Kirfel in May 2022 at the Sch(l)afstall in Bedheim.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The IBA Salon ›"Nice here. Architecture in the Countryside< took place in May 2022 in Bentheim. The International Building Exhibition (IBA) Thuringia, together with the German Architecture Museum (DAM) and the Foundation for Building Culture Thuringia, invited participants.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
During the salon, a discussion round brought together Anika Gründer, architect at Studio Gründer Kirfel, Susanne Wartzeck, President of the BDA (Association of German Architects), with Peter Cachola-Schmal, Director of the German Architecture Museum Frankfurt, Prof. Mario Tvrtkovic, Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the Coburg University, and Silvia Schellenberg Thaut, architect at Atelier ST.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
The occasion for the salon was the exhibition "Nice here. Architecture in the Countryside" by DAM, which was on display at the Hessenpark Open-Air Museum in Neu Anspach. The exhibition focused on rural architectural culture, a task that receives far too little attention.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller
During the final IBA tour, IBA Managing Director Marta Doehler-Behzadi presented the project sponsors Anika Gründer and Florian Kirfel-Rühle from Studio Gründer Kirfel with the certificate for inclusion in the IBA final presentation.
© Stiftung Baukultur Thüringen/IBA Thüringen, photographer Thomas Müller

New Remise

⸺ Land Building Art

Good architecture comes from the city and can be found in the city: this impression can be gained when building culture is primarily sought in urban areas. However, outstanding architecture also exists in rural areas. The gaze of the professional world is increasingly turning there. Simplicity, resource awareness, and landscape references are the maxims of a new generation of designers who consistently continue to develop rural building culture in a contemporary way. A prime example of this new avant-garde in the countryside can be found in the very south of Thuringia, in Bedheim. In addition to monument preservation, the core topics of the group consisting of architects, artists, and craftsmen are solidarity and social agriculture, rental housing construction in rural areas, and academic feedback. Hand and mind should come together at the location.

One of the projects by Studio Gründer Kirfel, the Neue Remise for Bedheim Castle, became an IBA project in 2017. The economic building, largely built with the help of students and craftsmen in the traditional wooden construction style, was named ›Sch(l)afstall‹ by the IBA and continues this tradition in the rural region. Despite the wooded surroundings of these rural areas, wooden construction has not had a good reputation in the past due to fears of damage caused by moisture and fungi. Thus, the sensual perception and knowledge of the material as well as the craftsmanship are increasingly lost. With this project, Studio Gründer Kirfel created uncompromising architecture that shows the possibilities of sustainable, artistically exciting self-construction. A place on the shortlist of the prestigious prize of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) honors this. A successful documentary film explains the special features of the project and motivates follow-up projects to build with high-quality regional building materials in rural areas.

Studio Gründer Kirfel strengthens the debate on building culture in rural areas with the ›Bedheimer Kamingespräche‹, which were conducted in cooperation with the IBA. In 2015, this resulted in the Bedheim Declaration, which formulated quality criteria for building culture in rural areas for both professionals and the public. With its teaching assignments, promotions, and regular construction workshops, Studio Gründer Kirfel strengthens the exchange between urban and rural areas. With the start of construction in 2017, they finally tested the maxims of their building culture themselves: the 7.5 by 24 meter large Sch(l)afstall was built on the natural stone foundation of the old barn of the castle complex. Thanks to the help of wandering carpenters, the wooden rough building was completed in just four weeks. Expert companies were called in when specialized knowledge was lacking. The students of the 2017 construction workshop helped under the guidance of Studio Gründer Kirfel and their partners. This taught the architecture students what comes after the design and planning practiced at universities. The actual practical implementation of designs is an approach that is often neglected in education. The exchange with construction trades is also often neglected.

Bedheim Castle is a densely programmed living and working space for its residents and visitors. The activities radiate out into the village and beyond. With the regionally proven building culture practiced here, Studio Gründer Kirfel will continue to promote ecological, regional, and artistically excellent self-construction. Further projects in the context of the ensemble are in the planning stages.

Ort

Sch(l)afstall

Schloss Bedheim
98630 Römhild-Bedheim

Financial support

  • Thuringian Ministry for Infrastructure and Agriculture
  • International Building Exhibition Thüringen GmbH

Involved In Planning

  • Architecture, General Planning: Studio Gründer Kipfel

Involved In Construction

  • Bauleitung: Philipp Bader (Carpenter and MSc in Architecture),
  • Albert Liebermann (Bookbinder)

Construction Execution:
  • Astrid Rühle (Chair of the Support Association)
  • Mario Schmidt (Caretaker)
  • Okubay Kidane (Trainee)
  • Martin Bachmeier (Metalworker)
  • Michael Schreiber (Association Member)
  • Gudrun Klöckner (Carpenter)
  • Manou Knepper (Carpenter)
  • Stefan Feger (Carpenter)
  • Jakob Rößner (Gardener)
  • Jakob Fricke (Helper)
  • Lukas Kiefer (Helper)
  • Markus Noll (Association Member)
  • Claudia Zauke (Master roofer)
  • Karl Otto Krebs (Association Member)
  • Karl-Friedrich Gründer (Teacher)
  • Simon von Hackewitz (High School Graduate)
  • the entire Studio Gründer Kirfel
  • Participants of the International Workcamp
  • Students of Bauhaus University Weimar as part of the construction workshops in 2017 and 2018