During the reconstruction of one of the wings of the vicarage in Halle, we were challenged to design a living and desk space that is more connected to the surrounding environment while also meeting the strict heritage requirements due to its status as a protected monument. The closed nature of the vicarage is perceived negatively, and the new design aims to address this issue. We have accomplished this task by reintroducing characteristic details of the vicarage in a contemporary manner. New brick pilasters create a clear rhythm in the composition of the facade, promoting openness while also enhancing the monumentality. The top edge between the pilasters is executed with our own interpretation of a traditional masonry bond, serving as a nod to the past.

The floor level of the main building is significantly higher than the garden level. To make the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces palpable within the interior, we opted to create a sunken seating area that accommodates this height difference. This subtly guides the user to the garden level. The curved shape of this seating area naturally delineates two zones, namely the seating area and the desk space, without the need for a physical barrier, with the height differences reinforcing this concept.