An Austrian Couple Finds New Life For Their Family's 375-Year-Old Farmstead

"A family home evokes emotion-often, selling it can feel spiritually compromising. After his studies in Salzburg, Austria, and South Africa, Christian Haider faced this scenario with his parents' farmstead. "I've always loved the house-the thought of it being neglected was terrible," the psychotherapist says. "I didn't like the idea either that someone else might come along and even renovate it wonderfully, but then I wouldn't be able to go there anymore.""

"The barn and grain store have been converted into Haider's practice and a small guest apartment. "The basic structure of the building remains the same as it was," the psychotherapist says. "Over the years, the farm was expanded in various ways. We removed the later additions and tried to preserve and restore the character of the traditional four-sided home as much as possible.""

Christian Haider returned after studies in Salzburg and South Africa to take over his family's 375-year-old farmhouse and now lives there full-time with partner Philipp Schuler and Haider's parents. The property remained in family ownership through four generations and was actively farmed until the parents' retirement. The barn and grain store were converted into Haider's practice and a guest apartment while preserving the building's original four-sided character by removing later additions. Renovation work included sanding original floors, replacing ceilings, re-laying old tiles, and renovating bathrooms. The project began with landscaping: garden layout, ground leveling, and planting fruit and other trees with landscape designer Wolfgang Ehmeier.

Read at Architectural Digest