Architect Erhard Demuth has converted a former grain silo in Künzelsau-Morsbach, Germany, into a distinctive twenty-meter tower that serves as both his residence and office. The sand-beige concrete structure, originally built around 1960 to store grain for an adjacent mill, now houses six floors including a basement. Demuth first conceived the idea while working on plans to repurpose the neighboring mill building, eventually dreaming about transforming the industrial silo into livable space. When he approached the mill owner with his vision, the response was immediate and enthusiastic, resulting in a sale that launched one of the region's most innovative adaptive reuse projects.
The conversion process began in 2021 after Demuth convinced his wife Sigrun of the project's potential. The most challenging aspect involved carefully removing the internal partitions that had created separate grain bunkers without damaging the building's external shell. Demuth had difficulty finding a demolition company willing to undertake such precise work, and the project faced structural engineering challenges during construction. Workers methodically cut out the concrete walls and lifted them out by crane, preserving the silo's original industrial character while creating open vertical space for modern living. Despite the complexities, Demuth never seriously doubted the project's success, applying the same determination he uses for client projects to his personal vision.
The tower's layout reflects a thoughtful division of public and private functions. The ground floor and first level house Demuth's architecture office, while the fourth and fifth floors serve as the couple's private living quarters. Two additional floors contain 650-square-foot rental apartments, each with small balconies, currently occupied by a woman with a child and dog, and a couple who are friends of the Demuths. The top floor opens onto a rooftop terrace with expansive views where the couple frequently entertains guests. Sigrun Demuth jokes that she no longer wants to vacation elsewhere, preferring to stay home in their unique tower.
Inside, the building feels entirely modern, with little to remind occupants of its industrial past except for the intentionally raw concrete walls. These surfaces were merely painted white rather than plastered over, preserving the texture and history of the original structure. The project exemplifies sustainable construction practices by repurposing unused commercial buildings in rural areas, a specialty of Demuth's firm. He was also involved in the neighboring mill conversion, which now houses students in close proximity to the silo tower. The project demonstrates how obsolete agricultural infrastructure can find new life as contemporary residential and commercial space, serving as a model for similar transformations in small-town Germany.
The Künzelsau-Morsbach tower stands as a testament to creative vision and perseverance in adaptive reuse. Demuth's approach maintains the building's essential character while completely reimagining its function, creating a vertical community that combines work, living, and rental opportunities. The project has attracted attention as an example of how rural communities can preserve their industrial heritage while meeting modern housing needs, offering an alternative to new construction through the innovative repurposing of existing structures. For Demuth, the tower represents both a personal achievement and a professional statement about the possibilities of sustainable architecture in unexpected places.
