Hit in Carinthia – The second oldest private brewery in Austria prides itself on its regional focus, quality, tradition and natural raw materials. When a 400-year-old former stable was converted into an office building, the architects from the firm skape architects consciously selected HARO Parquet – Hamberger Flooring has stood for these values for generations.

Beer has been brewed with an abundance of heart and dedication in Hirt since 1270, using regional ingredients and the area’s own mountain spring water. The brewers produce a range of 15 beer specialities full of character under the international “Slow Brewing” seal of quality, which rates both beer and brewer in terms of sustainability and quality.

New offices in the historic barn

A stable that is several hundred years old was chosen as the new location for the planned office expansion. Careful renovation and redesign were carried out in cooperation with the architects from skape architects in St. Veit. The natural stone walls and stone pillars were partially exposed, and the façade on the ground floor was perfectly complemented by stone elements. The old wood in the stable was reused for most of the fittings.

Twenty offices, two meeting rooms and numerous ancillary rooms were created in a unique atmosphere on the some 1,200 m² of space on the upper and top floor. The highlight is the entrance area, which looks up to the roof structure. The old roof beams have been preserved completely and integrated into the architecture. There is a connecting bridge on the top floor, which provides interesting views and insights into the wooden structure of the roof.

HARO Parquet sets the tone

One key concern of the work was to preserve the character of the old building in a modern way and to add a fresh interpretation. The HARO Parquet floors naturally complement this sustainable approach of the architects perfectly.

“The HARO Plank 1-Strip Oak Alabama brushed style sets new tones in terms of rusticality and radiates warmth and naturalness. The retro brushing with its lively look and sense of touch makes the generously appointed corridor areas in particular a real eye catcher”, architect Stefan Kogler said in explaining his choice. HARO impressed the customer thanks to its quality awareness, its commitment to products manufactured in a sustainable and environ-mentally-friendly manner and its innovative strength thanks to advanced technology.

Award-winning remodelling

Thanks to the harmonious overall concept, the architectural firm based in St. Veit can celebrate winning the “Office of the Year” award for its conversion of the 400-year-old farm building of the private brewery into a modern office and administrative centre. The conversion was commended by the jury as an excellent example of sustainable building use.