Our values

By taking over and using the DIRINGLO, we are conscientiously continuing the work and the will to preserve the farm of the previous owners, acting in their spirit and with foresight for our children and grandchildren. In this way, we become – and we see this as a distinction – participants in an inter-generational contract that has sustained the DIRINGLO for centuries.

In developing the Diringlo, we aim – wherever possible – for a long service life, easy maintenance and a construction using simple materials that are available more or less everywhere and can be returned to the material cycle at any time. This is exactly in keeping with the long-standing tradition at Diringlo. For example, 400-year-old timber was reused in the log construction, and the rubble stone wall in Kathi’s flat has also been preserved.

The house

For centuries, rural houses have been an essence of minimalist use of materials (bricks were used only where absolutely necessary), optimising building orientation and minimising window/cooling surfaces, as well as expensive, non-local materials such as glass. Our ancestors always lived this way, mostly out of economic necessity, and we are now struggling to return to it. Energy sources were usually used several times, for heating, cooking, baking and washing. This made it possible to make the best possible use of resources at the time.

With these ideas in mind, we have carefully repaired, extended and revitalised the historic farmhouse, using as much of the original materials as possible – wood, lime plaster, brick and glass. To meet today’s comfort standards, the roof and facade have been insulated with recyclable wood fibre panels up to 20.0 cm thick and fitted with underfloor heating powered by a heat pump.

The solid Douglas fir planks, 28mm thick and up to 30cm wide, will provide a warm, comfortable floor for many generations to come.

Even the furniture – such as in the historic parlour, which is heritage-listed – has been professionally or, in the case of new pieces, as in other areas, made by local craftspeople according to our plans.

In order to heat the parlour during the transition period, the historic tiled stove was completely dismantled and carefully and artistically restored to its original state by a renowned tile restorer. The stove was then rebuilt with new firebricks and covered with the original tiles.

An open fireplace has been installed in the former stables and in the threshing floor, and wood from the nearby woods can be used to create a cosy atmosphere.

The technology

Whereas wood used to be the main source of heating energy, today it is electricity that drives the heat pump. The terracotta-coloured solar panels on the roof of the garage – almost unique in Germany – produce their own solar energy on site, which is converted by the heat pump into heating energy, which in turn feeds the heating surfaces in the house.

The underfloor heating systems installed in almost all the rooms deliver the heating energy to the rooms as low-temperature radiant heat and save additional energy by storing it in the screed surfaces.

The photovoltaic system also supplies a large part of the energy for the 3 charging stations in the garage (funded by the Free State of Bavaria) – depending on the time of day. The rest of the electricity is supplied by the local electricity cooperative. The windgas used to heat the hot water is supplied by Green Planet Energy eG.

The social factor

Despite being empty for many years, the old farmhouse has always been part of the image of the village and the memory of its inhabitants because of its exposed location.

Thanks to the involvement of many craftsmen from the village and surrounding communities, the restoration and reconstruction process has created an ever stronger bond with the historic building.

Initially, the once dilapidated building was more of a blemish on the village, but as the work has progressed, pride in the work and the new look, as well as a deeper network among the craftsmen, has rightly begun to emerge.

Even with the neighbours – all of whom were already very sympathetic to the project from the beginning – a deeper bond has developed over the result and the visible improvement of the surroundings.