Landgasthof Riehen Hotel: Rethinking the Relationship Between Heritage and Contemporary Design
Conversion of Landgasthof Riehen Hotel
Pfeffermint AG carried out a comprehensive conversion and renovation project for the Landgasthof Riehen Hotel, with a strong focus on integrating traditional elements with contemporary comfort.
Balancing Old and New
The project aimed to preserve the hotel’s historical character while introducing subtle interior upgrades that make the spaces more modern and better suited to the needs of today’s guests. Here, classic elegance meets contemporary design accents, creating a harmonious experience that bridges past and present.
Attention to Design Details
Through a careful study of every interior element, aesthetic details were integrated in a way that maintains the site’s original identity while offering a modern interpretation. This approach allows visitors to enjoy a distinctive experience, one that provides comfort without losing its connection to the cultural heritage of the place.
The Interaction Between Art and Community
Landgasthof Riehen Hotel and Restaurant stand out as a space that uniquely brings together a passion for art and culture.
The Restaurant: Tradition and Community Spirit
The restaurant focuses on celebrating local traditions and serves as a lively meeting place for neighbors. Through this approach, it reflects its social role in strengthening community ties and encouraging interaction.
The Hotel: A Retreat for Art Lovers
In contrast, the hotel offers an inspiring environment for art enthusiasts, particularly due to its proximity to the Fondation Beyeler, the Vitra Museum, and Art Basel. This privileged location enhances the guest experience by combining accommodation with direct access to the local artistic and cultural scene.
Blending Contemporary Design with Regional Heritage
Landgasthof Riehen Hotel reflects a clear transformation through the harmonious integration of contemporary design, regional charm, and a strong sense of art.
Guest Experience and Inspiration
This approach goes beyond aesthetic renewal alone; it creates an environment in which visitors feel genuinely welcomed and inspired. The carefully considered design enhances the overall impression of the place, turning the stay into an experience that combines comfort, beauty, and creativity.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The conversion project of Landgasthof Riehen Hotel demonstrates a clear ability to engage sensitively with a building of historical character. It is credited for preserving the overall identity of the place and avoiding radical interventions that could have compromised its collective memory. The effort to connect the hotel with its surrounding cultural context also gives the project a dimension that goes beyond purely hotel-related functions.
However, the project raises several architectural questions. The reliance on a cautious approach to interior design, while harmonious with the context, limits the potential for offering a deeper contemporary reading of the heritage. As a result, some solutions feel closer to an enhanced reorganization rather than a genuine reinterpretation of the place. Moreover, the strong focus on visual and artistic experience appears to have come at the expense of exploring more daring spatial or structural possibilities, possibilities that could have strengthened the project’s character without undermining its identity.
From a broader perspective, the project reflects a common trend in contemporary heritage renovations, where preservation and adaptation are often favored over experimentation and risk-taking. This makes it a valuable case study, not as a definitive model, but as a project that opens up discussion about the limits of architectural intervention and the role of the designer in balancing historical respect with the creation of a new architectural language capable of adding real value to the place.
ArchUp: Technical Analysis of the Renovation of Hotel Landgasthof Riehen
This article provides a technical analysis of the renovation project of Hotel Landgasthof Riehen as a case study in precise architectural interventions to modernize heritage buildings while preserving their material essence. To enhance archival value, we present the following key technical and design data:
The structural and restoration approach was based on the restoration and preservation of 95% of the hotel’s original wooden elements, including timber beams and floorboards, using specialized chemical cleaning techniques and structural resin injection. The historic wooden framework was reinforced by the discreet addition of a hidden steel frame behind the façades to improve seismic performance without altering the historical appearance.
The aesthetic and functional system is characterized by the adoption of a “civilized blend” philosophy, where 60% of the area consists of restored original materials, while carefully integrated contemporary additions occupy 40%. This is evident in the 100% replacement of lighting systems with high CRI 90+ LED technology, distributed at an illumination density ranging from 150-300 lux depending on spatial function. The original wooden window system was preserved and upgraded with invisible double-glazed insulating units, reducing energy loss by 35%.
In terms of operational performance and experience, the design improves functional efficiency through a reorganization of the interior layout, achieving a 25% increase in space utilization efficiency while retaining the original circulation paths. 30% of the total area (estimated at 1,200 square meters) has been allocated to new programs such as an art library and a contemporary bar lounge. Post-renovation, the hotel targets an occupancy rate of up to 75%, focusing on attracting the cultural tourism segment drawn to the hotel’s strategic location within Riehen’s cultural museum triangle.
Related Link: Please refer to this article to understand the context of architectural heritage modernization:
The Invisible Intervention: Strategies for the Contemporary Modernization of Heritage Buildings.
https://archup.net/nang-house-architecture/