Restoration and repurposing of a historical building
Parish offices and the convent
Anna Birra, Riccardo Guerri, Carlo D'Alberti, Giada Dadomo
The building is part of an architectural ensemble in Untermais and belongs to the "Maria Trost" monastery, a subsidiary of the Stams Abbey. Based on an urban development study we conducted, the monastery was relocated from the priory building to the previously unused farm buildings. The priory and the adjoining open spaces have been leased to the municipality of Merano for public use under a 99-year agreement. The original double courtyard estate (Moarhof), expanded into a noble residence around 1740, has been used as a monastery by Stams Abbey since 1766. The restoration project for the listed auxiliary buildings reorganizes their functions: parish offices and the convent have been moved to the small Baroque building, while the vacant historic barn has been converted into a monastery area. The inner courtyard with its Baroque fountain now serves as the main entrance, and a modern cloister with a guesthouse has been created in the southern garden. The restoration was carried out in accordance with monument preservation and landscape protection requirements. The goal was to preserve the basic structure and maintain the legibility of the buildings’ original uses. The character of the Baroque building, as well as the barn with its three-aisled roof structure and large openings, has been retained. Original elements such as walls, roof, and beams were preserved, while new additions in pigmented concrete, larch wood, and natural stone complement the historic fabric.