It is important to us to live and operate as close to society and as sustainable as possible. In doing so, we want to create added value for the region.
What is to be created in Kirnhalden:
Café
A regional and seasonal café with an adventure playground for children and an inviting garden for a dignified afternoon. Space for cultural events, family-friendly festivals and events, private celebrations and occasionally a great party. A unique destination for the whole region!
Lerning
A barrier-free seminar facility with about 40 beds, two large and one small seminar room, as well as the possibility of full or partial catering; can be booked externally and also used by our own educational staff. Oh yes, rentable rooms for regular courses or workshops are of course also available.
Working
Co-working spaces, studios and/or workshops. Depending on what kind of people come with what kind of ideas. Creative spaces for rent for cooperative members as well as for external people (for example you?).
Living
Living space for about 50 people, with an integrated care residence with 6-8 places. Modular apartments that can be occupied as a small space or in a shared apartment. Further we plan a small Tiny House model settlement. Garden for well-being as well as space for creativity and tranquility in (almost) all situations of life. A home for chickens, bees and of course always room for guests.
Environment
Orchards, vegetable garden and around it pure forest experiance. E-bikes and smart sharing systems via app for vehicles, objects, food and care work. Modern and close to nature at the same time in a self-test. Like in a modern small town.
The renovation of the buildings and the implementation of the small and large project components will proceed gradually.
We plan a development period of 5-10 years.
THE PLACE.
Founded as a monastery, the farmstead Kirnhalden has been nestled alone in the small Kirn valley since the 14th century. At times it was closely surrounded by forest, almost overgrown, at times also surrounded by meadows and green hills. Over the centuries it was embattled, taken, burned down and rebuilt.
From 1717 Kirnhalden was discovered as a place of healing. The spring there was said to have special powers. The “Bad Kirnhalden” developed splendidly and became, with a low point during the 1st World War, a popular health resort until the beginning of the 2nd World War. After the war, war returnees and veterans were housed in the Kirnhalden buildings.
In the early 1960s, another building was added to the remote place: The isolation and ‘smallpox station’. However, this location, built for emergencies, was never used. Instead, Kirnhalden was purchased by Bruderhaus Diakonie in the late 1960s and used as a nursing and retirement home for old people with long-term mental illness. Until 2017, many old and sick people lived and died in Kirnhalden.
Since then, the site has been more or less empty. The subsequent owner wanted to make a wedding and event location out of the place, but never implemented his plan. Interim uses as accommodation for refugees have been tried, but also failed. Since 2018, only Rudolf D., an artist who carves life-size wooden figures and earns his living as a gravedigger, lives on the Kirnhalden site. And then, in May 2021, we discovered the place…
