ᐅ Building in Rural Areas – Converting an Old Barn into a Single-Family Home
Created on: 11 Nov 2024 11:06
T
Team_T3
Hello everyone,
My husband, my young son, and I want to build a single-family house on my parents’ property.
We live on an old farmstead (house + barn + garage building) in a rural area outside the village in Bavaria. Unfortunately, my parents’ house, where they also live with us, is becoming too small as the family is growing. Our question to you is whether there is a possibility for us to demolish the barn, which is about 15 x 15 meters (49 x 49 feet) and located about 10 meters (33 feet) away from the parents’ house, and build our own home there.
A few more details: We no longer practice farming but have forestry operations, and the barn likely wouldn’t survive a harsh winter anymore. We cannot remodel or extend my parents’ house because it was built in 1843, and the costs for renovation to current energy standards would be unfeasible.
Water and electricity supply are available.
We would also create a connection to my parents’ house by sharing a new heating system (wood chip boiler).
What do you think our chances are? Do you have any advice on how we should proceed?
Thank you in advance for your help.
My husband, my young son, and I want to build a single-family house on my parents’ property.
We live on an old farmstead (house + barn + garage building) in a rural area outside the village in Bavaria. Unfortunately, my parents’ house, where they also live with us, is becoming too small as the family is growing. Our question to you is whether there is a possibility for us to demolish the barn, which is about 15 x 15 meters (49 x 49 feet) and located about 10 meters (33 feet) away from the parents’ house, and build our own home there.
A few more details: We no longer practice farming but have forestry operations, and the barn likely wouldn’t survive a harsh winter anymore. We cannot remodel or extend my parents’ house because it was built in 1843, and the costs for renovation to current energy standards would be unfeasible.
Water and electricity supply are available.
We would also create a connection to my parents’ house by sharing a new heating system (wood chip boiler).
What do you think our chances are? Do you have any advice on how we should proceed?
Thank you in advance for your help.
I wouldn’t see it as entirely negative, but it’s definitely not simple either. In any case, it’s important to bring an architect on board who is well connected within the local municipality. In our region (Eastern Bavaria), building a new house for the children next to the parents’ old farmstead is almost standard practice. According to an official from our municipality, the communal building permit or planning permission often covers both the agricultural building and the manager’s apartment.
My husband and I would definitely consult the relevant authority in person to ask for advice. We are not planning to build on a completely undeveloped site, but rather to demolish an existing building and use the land differently. Our house would then serve to maintain the forestry operation, as otherwise we would be forced to give up the farmstead, which has been in my family’s possession for decades. We simply cannot renovate the “parents’ house” because the costs and effort would be too great. Additionally, five people would need to move elsewhere during the renovation period. Our house would also fit into the overall appearance of the farmstead, and a connection through a shared heating system would be established. Perhaps this makes your assessment a bit more positive.
Team_T3 schrieb:
Also, our house would blend in well with the image of the farmstead.Maybe the architect could create a sketch showing the new farmstead designed in the style of the original construction year, rather than a super modern, mismatched block as a new building. Even the Berlin City Palace was given a curtain wall facade.
S
Schorsch_baut11 Nov 2024 18:58Team_T3 schrieb:
My husband and I would definitely visit the responsible authority in person to ask for advice. We are not going to develop a "greenfield" site but simply demolish an existing building and repurpose the land. Our new house would help continue the forestry business; otherwise, we would be forced to give up the farmstead, which has been in my family’s possession for decades. We simply cannot renovate the “parents’ house” because the costs and effort would be too high. Also, five people would have to move elsewhere during the renovation. Furthermore, our new house would fit into the overall appearance of the farmstead and there would also be a connection through the shared heating system. Perhaps this makes your assessment a bit more positive. There was a recent change in the building code aimed at making it easier for children to build on their parents’ property.
B
Buchsbaum06612 Nov 2024 06:35familie_s schrieb:
In the BR TV show "Dream Houses," there was a recent episode where someone in Bavaria built a house inside an old Jura barn. Maybe something like that could be possible?Yes, that would be absolutely no problem within the interior area.