rebstockstube

What does it mean to transform a local and historic place where exceptional dishes have been created and served for generations?  It all begins with a meal in the beautiful region of Freiburg, Germany. A single family owns and runs this restaurant, delighting guests from around the world with their distinctive style of regional and French-inspired casual fine dining. The first challenge lies in initiating a transformation process together with the chefs and team of this historically listed establishment. The intention is to preserve the spirit of the restaurant while carefully renovating and enhancing the historic building—laying the foundation for the next generation to carry it forward. The ultimate aim is for guests to experience a sense of delightful ambiguity within the new, purist space: to feel as though they are encountering something entirely fresh, yet with an atmosphere so familiar it seems they have visited many times before. 

How can the layout of a historically listed and frequently used building be adjusted to modify its use and create an atmospheric spatial experience? The restaurant’s original layout already provides a sequence of inviting rooms, all connected through a central space. With both a front and a rear entrance leading directly into this space, guests often arrive from different directions, creating some disturbance at the tables there. During the complete renovation of the structure—which includes rebuilding the floor, counter, kitchen, and wine cellar—the opportunity arises to close the two existing entrances and introduce a single new entry. Positioned in a similar yet slightly shifted location, this new entrance creates a transitional zone linking the new outdoor areas, the dining rooms, and the redesigned restrooms. A newly introduced table d’hôte on a raised platform now connects guests more directly with the open kitchen and bar, dissolving old boundaries and offering the chefs new opportunities to present their craft and engage with diners who come to share in their passion.

Which materials and objects can be preserved and complemented with contemporary furniture, fabrics, and colours?  The identifying character of the place, and the pursuit of finding beauty in sustaining and refining what already exists, form an integral part of the project from the outset. In a world of finite resources that nevertheless seeks to celebrate new creation, the aim is to carefully elevate and complement the existing with the new. For this reason, the original wooden wall claddings, tables, and chairs are restored and preserved, while new pieces are added to harmonise with them. Natural curtain fabrics and carpet flooring are introduced to bring the spaces together. The new elements, including the large basin in the bathroom, are crafted from local sandstone that was already used in the original building more than a century ago.