REBUILDING HISTORY: THE OBERAMTEISTRASSE MUSEUM BLENDS MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE WITH MODERN DESIGN IN REUTLINGEN

Oberamteistraße Museum in Reutlingen: A Dialogue Between Medieval Heritage and Contemporary Architecture

The Oberamteistraße Museum project in Reutlingen, designed by Wulf Architekten revitalizes one of the oldest rows of half-timbered houses in southern Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. Located at numbers 28–32, this historic ensemble has undergone a heritage-sensitive restoration, combined with the construction of a new building on the site of a former corner house demolished in 1972.

The restored buildings themselves function as living exhibits, showcasing historical construction methods and ways of life. Completed in 2025, the new building strengthens the structural integrity of the ensemble, provides barrier-free access, and creates flexible spaces for cultural events, social interaction, and creative exchange.

The new structure features a timber framework made from locally sourced European silver fir, reinterpreting the original form of the lost building. Its façade and roof are clad in cast-glass “beaver-tail” tiles, creating a dynamic visual effect: depending on light conditions, the building appears translucent, reflective, or shimmering.  

With a highly complex load-bearing wooden structure, composed of layered diagonal and horizontal elements, the building combines architectural expression with structural logic. Designed without thermal insulation or air conditioning, it relies on natural ventilation through open joints in the façade, ensuring climate regulation and smoke extraction without mechanical systems.

project: Historical Oberamteistraße Museum
client: stadt reutlingen
location: Oberamteistraße 28-34, 72764 Reutlingen, Germany 
typology: rehabilitation, museum, cultural 

architecture: Wulf Architekten gmbh  > www.wulfarchitekten.com

competition: 2017 / First Prize
start of planning: 2018
completion: 2025 (new building) / 2029 (old buildings)

photography:  Brigida González (c)
drawings : wulf architekten gmbh (c)