Since February 2023, official planning has been underway for the historic Schloss Luxburg, with the aim of breathing new life into this magnificent building and making it accessible to the public. The client has tasked our planning team with turning their vision into reality by transforming the castle into a boutique hotel with event spaces.
Further details on the project background and initial conditions can be found in our blog post, “Launch of Planning Activities at Schloss Luxburg.” Additional information on the castle’s history is also available at the following link. Launch of Planning Activities at Schloss Luxburg Additional information on the castle’s history is also available at the following link.
Our team’s assignment includes advancing an existing preliminary project that envisions the castle (West Wing) and the fortress building (East Wing) as a cohesive unit. In addition to the hotel and event spaces, the conversion of the coach house into holiday apartments is planned for the future, though this is not part of the current contract.
After we took on the project, we discovered that the castle grounds are classified as a special zone that requires a design plan, although no plan currently exists for this area. Therefore, the experienced planning firm NRP Ingenieure was commissioned to create this essential design plan—without it, no building permit can be issued.
In reviewing the existing preliminary project, we noticed the absence of essential auxiliary spaces needed for hotel operations, such as staff rooms and storage facilities. These are crucial to ensure the smooth functioning of the hotel and bistro. Since all available areas are already designated for other purposes, we are currently working to find a viable solution.
The initial plan placed the kitchen in the lower ground floor of the east wing. However, it soon became clear that this location was unsuitable for the planned workflows, due to factors such as limited natural light, challenging delivery conditions, and technical constraints. We are now proposing to situate the kitchen in a new building in the connecting area between the castle (West Wing) and fortress (East Wing), thereby addressing the challenges of the original location.
The planned relocation of the kitchen from the basement level of the east wing has freed up valuable space. This area is now being used for the hotel reception, the much-needed staff rooms, and the public restrooms. This reorganisation also allows for the elimination of the reception area on the ground floor of the west wing, so this space can now be exclusively reserved for quieter functions such as a reading room and hotel rooms. This leads to a clearer and more functional floor plan. Another optimisation of the existing preliminary design involves the relocation of the bathrooms, originally planned for the historical rooms. These have been moved to adjacent areas with existing plumbing, allowing the rooms to maintain their historic charm while providing modern comfort.
We have already held discussions with fire safety experts and additional specialists. However, since the project is not yet sufficiently developed, further consultations are still pending. A report on potentially hazardous materials was commissioned, which indicates some contamination in certain areas of the structure, though this is currently a lower priority compared to other essential planning steps.
Shortly after taking over the project, we engaged closely with heritage conservation authorities. An “ampelplan” (a preservation and alteration guideline) was created, indicating which building elements need to be preserved and where modifications are possible. Several site visits and discussions with the heritage conservation office have already taken place, though a few key points remain unresolved.
This project is a demanding challenge that requires the careful integration of innovative technology with heritage-compliant measures to preserve Schloss Luxburg’s historical essence while enabling new functions. With great dedication and enthusiasm, we are working to reshape the castle in its new role as a vibrant cultural meeting point and welcoming center. Our goal is to create an inviting place where history and modernity harmoniously merge, offering visitors a truly unique atmosphere.
Project information
| Area of expertise | Addition / Alteration / Renovation |
| Collaboration | Moreno Architektur GmbH MLR Baumanagement GmbH |
| Status | preliminary project |
| Year | 2024 |