Alpenstadt Museum Sonthofen by Andreas Ferstl Architekten

Reinterpreting Alpine Heritage Through Contemporary Design

Located in the heart of Sonthofen, Germany, the newly transformed Alpenstadt Museum by Andreas Ferstl Architekten reimagines regional tradition through a refined architectural language rooted in sustainability, material honesty, and cultural continuity. Completed in 2023, the 2,130 m² museum harmoniously weaves together historical preservation, landscape integration, and community-centered design.

Urban Integration & Exterior Architecture

The museum ensemble seamlessly integrates into Sonthofen's fine-grained urban fabric, echoing the local vernacular of closely spaced gabled houses while interpreting it through a modern lens. The varied roofscape, shaped by pitched volumes, not only enhances the street view but aligns with the scale and rhythm of the historic town center.

Newly designed public spaces anchor the museum in its context. At Kirchplatz, a historic square is revived, while the Rapphaus gains a modest but functional extension that restores its original front. The eastern museum courtyard serves as a vibrant public gathering and event zone. To the south, the preserved farm garden reactivates the cultural memory of the site.

Cohesive Materiality & Sustainable Design

Two heritage buildings, the old farmhouse and the Rapphaus, define the historic core of the museum. A new, understated timber-clad building discreetly connects them, creating unified exhibition spaces while respecting their architectural presence.

Clad in rough-sawn larch wood, a historically and regionally appropriate material, the new facades and the existing 1970s annex achieve a cohesive visual language. The use of locally sourced white fir—harvested from the municipal forest—for the interior roof cladding showcases a deep commitment to renewable resources, regional craftsmanship, and climate-conscious architecture.

Multi-Functional Interior & Community Engagement

The museum is more than a repository of artifacts—it functions as a civic space for culture and dialogue. In addition to exhibition halls and archival storage, the building houses a multi-purpose event space, an education workshop, and a public café—inviting not just visitors but the local community to actively engage with the site.

This multi-use programming transforms the museum into a social anchor within the city, strengthening cultural identity while offering flexible infrastructure for education, art, and leisure.

Collaborative Revitalization & Cultural Funding

The redevelopment was carried out in close collaboration with the City of Sonthofen and the State Office for Non-State Museums, ensuring architectural quality aligned with public interest. It received support from various regional and EU programs, including:

• Städtebauförderung (Urban Development Promotion)
• EFRE – European Regional Development Fund
• Kulturfonds Bayern
• Bezirk Schwaben
• Bayerische Landesstiftun

All Photographs are works of Sebastian Schels