In a refurbishment respecting its heritage value, the former Massstabfabrik in Stein am Rhein was to be transformed into a contemporary residential building with 16 generously sized apartments. With its length of around 70 metres, the historic industrial building presented an unusual starting point, both in its spatial structure and in its structural condition.

The challenge was to preserve the character of the existing building while creating new living qualities that meet today’s requirements for comfort, energy efficiency and accessibility. Close coordination between the heritage conservation requirements and the client’s needs was demanding. The careful, precise survey of this large-scale building was also a key foundation for the whole project.