Location: Gunsbach, France.

Architect: dwpa, architectes.

The Maison du Munster is a cultural and leisure facility that showcases the local heritage, particularly the production of Munster cheese. The site was originally an agricultural farm, which has been converted into an interpretation center for architecture and heritage. The project aims to preserve the site’s typicity by developing a reflection around the materiality of wood to link all interventions and all eras between the barn, the traditional house, the stable, and the new building. The new building is designed to blend in with the existing buildings and the surrounding landscape. The entrance is under a large vegetated canopy that extends the building and occupies a central place in the scenographic reception system. The barn hosts temporary exhibitions, while the stable supports elements of scenography around dairy and cheese production. The restaurant is located in the traditional house and opens onto the meadow and cultural events that take place there. The project has a high environmental performance, with a focus on sustainable construction and energy efficiency. The building is constructed with a simple and homogeneous system of wooden frames, insulated wooden facades, and minimal concrete bracing. The raw larch cladding, copper scales, and green roof preserve the authenticity of the heritage site and ensure the building’s good integration into the landscape. Overall, the Maison du Munster is a successful example of how to convert an agricultural site into a cultural and leisure facility while preserving its heritage and integrating it into the surrounding landscape.

Photo credit: jbdo photographe.