Schlosshotel Wasserburg
The listed building Schlosshotel Wasserburg is prominently located on a peninsula on Lake Constance and dates back to a medieval moated castle, whose origins can be traced to the 8th century. The current structure is largely characterised by the 16th-century Renaissance castle and is distinguished by its solid walls, clear volumetry, and striking lakeside location. During the most recent renovation work, the ground floor was reorganised, expanded, and functionally transformed. The aim was to meet the contemporary requirements of a hotel business while respecting the listed building.
The structural addition takes the form of a semicircular structure that confidently yet discreetly adjoins the historic building. The design language of the new building is deliberately minimalist: clean lines, calm proportions, and a subtle choice of materials avoid any competition with the historic structure. Instead of contrast for contrast’s sake, a dialogue is created between old and new.
The detail language is restrained and precise. Transitions are clearly formulated, connections are cleanly defined, and the historic foundation remains discernible. The work is intended to represent a contemporary layer, not a reconstruction.
The interior design incorporates motifs that pay tribute to the location on the shores of Lake Constance. Elements reminiscent of the lightness of typical seaside bathhouses – pale materials, clear structures, an airy spatial effect – create an atmospheric connection between architecture and landscape.
The project exemplifies how listed buildings can be transformed through careful extension: respect for the existing structure, a clear contemporary approach, and a site-specific architectural language form the basis of the design.
