Gnädinger Architekten are the masterminds behind the renovation of a vacant half-timbered house, located in Duderstadt, Germany and the installation of a Museum of Historical Marksmanship in its place. The architects undertook the challenging task of integrating the new structure in the town’s picturesque scenery, which is situated next to the historical town hall and the remarkable landmark “Westerturm” and making it blend without destroying the idyllic beauty of its surroundings. 

Supported by the pre-existing, gigantic historic stonewall, a new wing was designed, consisting of concrete and compiled three-cornered folds, accommodating the emergency staircases and an extra gallery. One enters the new compartment directly under the medieval West Tower, the town’s most famous landmark. Inside, in order to maintain the shape of the building, the 3 storey open staircases have been designed sculptural and organic in form, letting the visitor encounter the medieval city wall with its original arches. The centerpiece of the wing is its façade, which is cladded with golden copper metal panels, with large polygonal windows, positioned in such a way so as to create an irregular pattern. It poses as an entirely alien body, a breathtaking modern entity, both rigid and organic in its form.

The interior comprises of black waxed steel flooring and balustrades, black wooden surfaces and doors featuring fierce yellow accents. The raw concrete prevailing throughout the structure contrasts the old natural stone blocks of the wall, allowing it to stand out.