Saving a 250-year-old half-timbered house in Schirgiswalde!

Saving a 250-year-old half-timbered house in Schirgiswalde!

In Saxony's picturesque landscape they stand like contemporary witnesses - the half-timbered houses. With their special construction that embodies tradition and craftsmanship, they are not only an asset to the landscape, but also part of the cultural heritage that needs to be preserved. But the decline continues: every year around eight of these unique buildings disappear due to demolition or decay. Sächsische.de reports that there are around 7,500 half-timbered houses in Saxony, many of which have now been lovingly restored and inhabited.

A highlight of the rescue operation is the Umgebindehaus on Rämischstraße in Schirgiswalde, which was saved from demolition by a dedicated association, the “Umgebindehaus Rämischstraße 23”. After eight years of intensive restoration work, which was completed in 2024, the approximately 250-year-old building now shines in new splendor. The facade was restored to an attractive olive green, while the original windows were refurbished. The interiors have been restored with great skill and attention to detail and the house is now open to visitors weekly.

Commitment and collaboration

The impressive restoration required more than just sensitivity. The club invested an impressive 9,000 hours of personal effort in the project. With an original cost estimate of 250,000 euros, the in-house work resulted in savings of 110,000 euros. The project was supported by funding totaling 86,000 euros from the Leader program, as well as 20,000 euros from the German Foundation for Monument Protection and over 13,000 euros in private donations.

The Umgebindehaus Foundation is committed to preserving these architectural treasures and offers a wide range of support - from emergency securing of endangered buildings to expert advice on renovations. It plays a central role in the collaboration with the Sparkasse Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien, which has launched a special S-Umgebindehaus program. This program supports the renovation and acquisition of the buildings; The aim is to promote the preservation of this building culture with flexible loan conditions of up to 35 years. Umgebindehaus Foundation is an excellent example of this active collaboration.

Monument preservation and challenges

Half-timbered houses are often listed buildings and must comply with the monument preservation requirements that are anchored in the Saxon Monument Protection Act. This means that the lower monument preservation authority is always involved in renovation applications. The challenges often lie in the strict regulations, which may also require innovative solutions to reconcile modern comfort and the preservation of historical substance. A good basis for renovation planning is comprehensive documentation of the building structure - this is also reported on Zittau/Görlitz University.

Participation in the annual “Day of the Open Half House” is a welcome opportunity for those interested to find out about the tradition and preservation of this construction method. This event attracts visitors from near and far. The restored Umgebindehaus in Schirgiswalde also plans to offer future seminars and readings as well as to build an archive and a specialist library with around 1,000 books on the subject. In this way, the knowledge about the half-timbered houses is preserved and made tangible for future generations.

Ultimately, half-timbered houses remain a symbol of craftsmanship and tradition that must be maintained for generations. It is up to all of us to show some protection and respect for this cultural heritage.