Transforming an Old Train Station into a Comfy Residence: The Kraichtal Couple's Unique Renovation Project
Couple Transforms Abandoned Train Station into Dream Home
In the picturesque town of Oberöwisheim, Kraichtal, Helga and Dieter Moser have transformed an abandoned train station into their unique residence. The couple embarked on a two-year renovation project to breathe new life into the neglected structure, preserving its historical charm while making it a comfortable home.
The train station, built in 1898, originally housed the ticket counter and passenger waiting room on the ground floor, with the station master's apartment on the upper floor. After being vacant for 35 years, it was Dieter Moser, a civil engineer, who successfully bid to purchase the station, which had been designated a historic monument.
During the renovation, the original doors, floors, and wooden staircase leading to the two upper floors were preserved and restored. The Mosers renewed the roof and windows and adapted the interior to their needs, blending old and new elements seamlessly. The platform canopy and brickwork were carefully maintained, creating a harmonious fusion of history and modernity.
The result of the renovation is an open-concept living space, with the kitchen and living room on the ground floor, and the bedrooms, bathroom, and home office upstairs. Adjacent to the station master's apartment was a storage room with a loading ramp, equipped with wooden sliding doors on both long sides. Helga Moser, a fashion designer, set up a spacious workspace for her studio in the attic of the renovated train station.
The former gravel parking lot has been transformed into a garden by Helga Moser, where flowers, shrubs, and blackberries grow. A grapevine, potentially as old as the building itself, is growing next to the house. The platform, once filled with student chatter in the mornings, is now quiet due to people being engrossed in their phones.
The couple, now both 83, has never regretted their decision to turn the train station into their home. It is convenient for them to step into the train from their front door and travel to places like Karlsruhe. Their granddaughter, who lives in Berlin, appreciates being able to travel by train and get off right at their home.
Despite the abundance of passengers pacing near their windows while waiting for the train, nothing has ever been damaged. The line, now under the Albtal-Verkehrsgesellschaft (AVG), has been electrified, and diesel locomotives are no longer running. The station was separated from the old station buildings, and Oberöwisheim station was preserved as the smallest station in the area.
The Mosers' home stands as a testament to their meticulous and creative renovation process, turning an abandoned train station into a cozy, distinctive home that honors its past while providing contemporary comfort.
- The Mosers' unique home, a revitalized train station, offers them the convenience of direct access to local trains, allowing them to travel effortlessly to places such as Karlsruhe.
- As a result of their two-year renovation project, the Mosers transformed the former home of the station master into a stylish home office, catering to Helga Moser's needs as a fashion designer.
- The Mosers have not only breathed new life into their home located in the Oberöwisheim train station, but they have also invested in its garden, which blooms with flowers, shrubs, and even blackberries, creating a picturesque landscape that honors its historical charm.
