Altes Gericht Reworks a Historic Court into Two Quiet Homes in Klausen
Altes Gericht sits within Klausen, Italy, where Stefan Gamper Architecture reworks the listed Old Court into two compact apartments. The project distills daily life into 45 m² (484 ft²) per home, trading courtly ceremony for quiet order. Within the top floors’ steep rooflines and timber bones, a careful plan, measured materials, and a few precise openings recalibrate this urban relic for present-day living.
A narrow stair turns and the ceiling lowers. Light slips across plaster and pale wood while roof slopes pull the eye toward a tight dormer and a sliver of town beyond.
Two compact apartments occupy the top floors of the listed Old Court in Klausen, reworked by Stefan Gamper Architecture with a clear plan and deliberate restraint. Each home measures 45 m² (484 ft²), organized to make every corner work hard—circulation tightened, functions nested, and quiet retreats shaped under the rafters.
Carve a Compact Plan
The layout stacks living, dining, and kitchen along the light, letting daily routines run cleanly from entry to table to rest. Reduction acts as a rule rather than a theme, keeping movement legible and rooms calm. Under steep roof slopes and between old beams, each zone clicks into the next so nothing idles or drifts.
Activate the Stair
Even the underside of the stair goes to work. A built-in desk slides beneath the run, turning a leftover wedge into a steady workstation with just enough breathing room. Nearby, the cloakroom tucks into the wall line, so arrivals stay tidy and circulation stays clear for the rest of the floor.
Open New Vistas
Historic windows, reframed in gray, edit the view and temper brightness. Two new dormers pierce the roof to catch Branzoll Castle and the hilltop monastery in precise diagonals—short, memorable glimpses that orient the plan. Pairing them, two quiet loggias recess into the roofscape to form bright, introverted perches with flashes of greenery inside a dense old town fabric.
Conceal the Storage
Custom casework runs long and low so volume reads continuous and clutter recedes. Generous storage hides in plane with the walls, letting furniture thin out and the room take presence. In this calm register, a few objects step forward: black lacquered chairs draw crisp silhouettes, and artworks by Anna Gamper create small pauses between line and light.
Set the Tone With Materials
European maple and silver fir lend warmth without weight. Beige-gray textured plaster softens light, and selective white accents keep edges clear for easy reading of the plan. The palette stays quiet so daily use leads, not the finishes (the restraint lets the structure and circulation do the speaking).
By day, the roof catches a slow arc of light that shuffles across beams and built-ins. At night, the plan gathers close—compact, legible, and tuned for small rituals. In a building once defined by order, that clarity now frames an unhurried, domestic rhythm.
Photography by Hannes Niederkofler
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