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Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol

Limewashed Stories

Oberbuchfelder Hof

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Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol

Intro

A familiar story of falling for an abandoned farmstead underpins Oberbuchfelder Hof, a boutique guesthouse grounded in simplicity, craft, and rural memory, with infinity views of the Dolomites. It is a story that took five years from the moment owners Evelyn Krapf and Werner Fill first encountered the then-unloved buildings. Slipping quietly into surrounding meadows and perched high above the Eisack Valley in Laion Ried (Lajen), South Tyrol, the farmhouse occupies a rare, sweet spot between agricultural grit, agriturismo soul and architectural intelligence.

Dating from the early 16th century, this historic Paarhof, a traditional paired farmhouse and barn ensemble, has been given a new lease of life through a careful, passion-infusedrestoration. Today, it operates as a quietly confident boutique guesthouse with modern accommodation that resists Alpine theatre and prefers substance. A cohesive material palette of raw stone, old and new timber, limewash and straw sets the tone. Views stretch across forest and meadow towards Val Gardena and the entrance to the Grödnertal.

The experience sits closer to having your own hotel suite embedded within a historic farmhouse than staying in a conventional guesthouse. Private apartments unfold within former barns and haylofts, shaped by original volumes and an unforced approach to interior design. It is farmhouse accommodation with a strong backbone, precise, grounded and quietly self-assured.

Design takes precedence over decoration. Oberbuchfelder Hof is a heritage-listed farmhouse for travellers who care about architecture and seek places with edge, memory and design integrity, delivered without noise.

Nominated for the South Tyrol Architecture Award 2026

Architecture, History and Restoration

Modernist sustainable interior design, limewash walls, natural timber furniture | Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol Modern,Timber clad bedroom suites in the Apartments Farmhouse Living in the Alps of Dolomites | Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol

Oberbuchfelder Hof is an unusually intact South Tyrolean farmstead, formed by a main house and adjoining farm building that have carried on with minimal interruption for nearly 500 years. Cross-vaulted rooms, a late Gothic parlour, a historic smokehouse kitchen and the original roof truss remain in place, not as set pieces but as working architecture.

The restoration was led by architects Jürgen Prosch and Felix Kasseroler of Brixen-based Studio Raum Drei Architekten, who treated the building as a structure to be listened to rather than corrected. “Due to our many years of experience with comparable historical projects, we have developed a keen sense for valuable building materials,” explains Prosch. The original roof construction of the main house was preserved, while the farm building received a renewed straw-thatched roof using traditional rye straw, a deliberate act of cultural continuity. In selected apartments, the thatching remains visible from within, a reminder that craft and comfort can coexist.

Externally, the farmhouse retains its lime-plastered façade, whitewashed using breathable lime paint. Historic openings were retained and fitted with new double-glazed larch windows, while original elements such as the entrance door and kitchen drain were restored to preserve the historical narrative. Natural stone arches and corner blocks remain untouched, carrying their age without apology.

Original Design

Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol

The interior design is unapologetically material-led. Local larch lines walls and ceilings, solid wood floors ground the rooms, and custom furniture is built to measure from the same timber stock. The palette stays tight. Wood, stone, lime plaster and daylight are allowed to carry the atmosphere.

Historic spaces define the rhythm of the house. The cross-vaulted Labe parlour, dating to 1749, acts as a central spine, linking reception and communal rooms. The smokehouse kitchen has been restored with traditional lime finishes and blackened surfaces and now functions as a shared lounge and honesty bar without losing its edge. In the Gothic parlour, original beams, decorative details and fragments of historic frescoes remain exposed, setting the tone for the rest of the house.

The furniture was designed in close collaboration between the architects and the owner’s carpentry workshop, Tischlerei Werner Fill, and handcrafted from solid larch wood. Patterns and proportions draw directly from Gothic arches and historic colour pigments uncovered during restoration.

Holistic Sleeps and the Morning ‘Brot’

Oberbuchfelder Hof | Boutique Farmhouse Accommodation in Laion, South Tyrol

The farmhouse houses a small collection of boutique guesthouse apartments ranging from 28 m² to 120 m², distributed between the main house and the former barn. Each apartment includes a balcony or loggia with expansive views across the surrounding landscape. Bathrooms are finished in natural grey stone tiles, deliberately restrained and tactile, balancing the warmth of timber with mineral calm. Referencing the history of the Labe parlour, intricate patterns have been carved into headboards and wardrobes, while oxide reds and dove blues reappear as subtle accents, a nod to the past.

Hospitality follows the same logic. Breakfast arrives quietly as a curated basket. Shared spaces invite use without performance. Wellness facilities, including sauna rooms, are embedded within the historic structure rather than added as features. The overall effect is closer to inhabiting a well-designed private residence than checking into a hotel, without sacrificing comfort or ease.

Five Years of Love

Evelyn Krapf and Werner Fill first encountered the historic Oberbuchfelder Hof in Laion five years ago and felt an immediate pull towards its ageing walls. The listed Paarhof, dating from the first half of the 16th century, was far from pristine. The abandoned farmhouse stood overgrown with weeds, its interiors cluttered with discarded furniture, while moisture seeped into the building fabric through a damaged roof. Yet the condition did little to dull its presence.

“The Oberbuchfelder Hof was something very special for us from the very beginning,” recall Krapf and Fill. “A mature farmhouse in a powerful location, full of history and stories.”

Convinced of its potential, the couple decided to acquire the property and begin a careful, step-by-step revitalisation with the support of Studio Raum Drei Architekten. From the outset, the intention was clear: to adapt the historic farmstead for guest accommodation while preserving its architectural integrity. The process required patience. As the farmhouse is both listed and situated within a protected natural landscape, permissions had to be secured from the Office for Monument Protection and the Office for Landscape Protection before any work could begin.

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