All the sheep in the dry

Between test tracks for autonomous driving and the first experimental parcels delivered by drone, humanity is moving ever closer to a digital, machine-dominated future. Everything has to happen as quickly as possible, the clock is ticking, time is money. In the midst of this hectic, automated world, there is a spot on earth where leisureliness reigns: A protected meadow in the Palatinate, which is not allowed to be mowed due to the protection it has been granted.

The solution to the problem of the impending overgrowth is simple – and not at all contemporary. Three borrowed sheep (the sharing economy after all) ensure that nature does not get out of hand in summer. To protect the sheep from the wind, weather and heat, Alexander Thumann, an architecture student at OTH Regensburg, has designed a barn for three farm animals. The surrounding Upper Palatinate barns not only inspired the design, but also the special way in which the wood was treated: the dark color of the barns inspired Thumann to flame the wood. The special burning technique preserves the wood in a natural way. Carbonization makes the boards water-resistant – another plus point is the deterrent effect this has on insects. This means that the sheep can relax and devote themselves to grazing and keep the wild growth under control without upsetting the balance of flora and fauna.

You can read the article in the July 2019 issue of Baumeister.