From the Unterland’s once most prestigious building, through difficult times, to renewed splendor

The Schlegel House, however, did not stand alone as a residential building. It was accompanied by a stable set at a respectful distance, whereas among the rural population of Liechtenstein, farm buildings were typically attached directly to the residential houses. This distance visually underscored the owners’ status: they distanced themselves from the peasantry, seeing themselves instead as wealthy citizens. The complex was complemented by a washhouse—which, like the stable, followed the architectural style of the main house—with a directly adjacent sod well, and a shooting lodge with shutters that could be opened toward the forest.

From Schlegel to Hagen

The Schlegel House served not only as a residence but also as a commercial and administrative building. Two rooms in the basement were set aside for workshops; one of these housed the Nendler Post Office starting in 1864, which served the entire Unterland region for nearly 50 years. Alois Schlegel became postmaster, and he certainly also provided hospitality to passing travelers and postal employees. After his death in 1887, the estate – which is today considered the best-preserved estate from the first half of the 19th century in Liechtenstein – passed to his daughter, Maria Elisabeth. Unusually for a woman, she also served as postmistress, managing the postal operations, and was the unmarried mother of a daughter: Eugenia Schlegel. In 1891, Eugenia married Fidel Hagen, a teacher from Lustenau, which is how the house acquired its current name. Their son, Egon Hagen, was the last resident. He died in 1993, but had not lived in his estate – which has been a listed historic building since 1988 – for years prior to his death. As a result, no one was taking care of the complex of buildings. From the outside, it looked increasingly neglected. The structure itself, however, was still in relatively good condition more than 180 years after its construction.

«Well-proportioned and impressive»

Despite its outwardly uninviting appearance, experts saw great potential in the Hagenhaus. Marcus Büchel summed this up in an article titled “The Revitalization of the Hagenhaus Estate in Nendeln” as follows:

«The elongated rectangular structure of the residential building appears well-proportioned impressive. The representative street-facing side stands out due to its consistent symmetrical layout. The rows of windows across the three stories are arranged in a strictly serial pattern. The double-leaf entrance door, together with the two tall windows above it and the semicircular opening in the attic, forms the axis of symmetry. Beneath the transverse gable typical of the period, the three central fifths of the facade’s length protrude slightly from the line as a risalit; this gives the facade accentuation and a finer structure.

A massive hipped roof covers the building. The windows and doors are framed in sandstone, a sign of prosperity. Above the decorative […] oak front door sits a cornice that can be interpreted as a reference to classical architectural models. The hardware is crafted in the Biedermeier style. The portal signals to the visitor that they are about to enter a bourgeois house of significance. […] The forms used in the design of the facades could have come straight out of a geometry textbook: rectangles, squares, semicircles; a serial pattern of order is employed, along with consistent symmetry along a central axis. Here, mathematics is on display […].

The window openings are reminiscent of urban buildings, as they are significantly higher than those found on farmhouses; they are designed to let plenty of light into the interior of the building. Beneath the transverse gable, a semicircular round window brings light into the attic. The shutters stand out from the gray of the facade like swatches of color. […] The architectural language is not limited to the representative facade facing the country road. The facade of the residential building facing away from the street is likewise composed in this style.»

In 2015, a group of dedicated citizens took the initiative and set out to restore the Hagenhaus. Their goal was to return the historic building to its former glory. They first faced the challenging task of raising the necessary funds through nonprofit foundations. Once this was achieved and the owner family agreed to grant the land under building rights, the path to revitalization was almost clear. The only thing missing was a meaningful use for the property. «Because we didn’t just want to restore the Hagenhaus estate, we also wanted to breathe new life into it», Marcus Büchel, the current president of the foundation’s board, says. It was thanks to an idea from his wife that the International Music Academy, which has been based in Nendeln for years, was approached as a potential user. Its representatives were open to the proposal of combining student and faculty housing, rehearsal spaces, and a concert hall all in one location.

The board of the Pro s'Hagen-Hus association, founded in December 2015, formed the core group for the revitalization. Walter Matt and Hans Eggenberger provided the initial spark. A professional, seven-member team was recruited for the foundation’s board.

Historic Buildings Free of Ancillary Rooms

The choice of the Bregenz-based architectural firm Cukrowicz und Nachbaur proved to be a stroke of luck; these proven experts succeeded in harmoniously integrating the historic buildings with a new structure. They were responsible for the feasibility study, the design, and the construction drawings. The firm Alex Wohlwend was entrusted with construction management. Working hand in hand, they fulfilled a complex and challenging commission. Starting with the groundbreaking on May 30, 2022, they created living, practice, and classroom spaces for about a dozen music students and two professors, as well as offices, common rooms, and a kitchen. The most demanding challenge was converting the barn into a concert hall.

The residential building, washhouse and stable building underwent renovation. The residential building remained a residence, while the washhouse was converted into a small faculty apartment. A new building, the so-called Hofhaus, was constructed on the hillside; it serves as a foyer during events in the concert hall and, at other times, as a lounge and dining area for both students and faculty, while architecturally complementing the ensemble. The historic buildings were kept free of ancillary rooms, as required by their contemporary use. Guest restrooms, a laundry room, a sound and film technology room, building services, and more are housed in the new basement level beneath the Hofhaus, which in turn is connected to the main building via an underground passage.

Historic Stoves and Plaster Rich in History

Since its opening in late October 2024, the Hagenhaus has once again taken on the exterior appearance that contemporaries saw in the first half of the 19th century. Inside, too, there are numerous reminders of the complex’s illustrious past. Upon entering the residence through the double-winged gate, one steps into a spacious, high-ceilinged hallway. Immediately to the left and right are the two rooms that were always used for commercial purposes, housing the post office and several businesses. These two rooms now serve as offices for the International Music Academy. The two upper floors once housed two identical, symmetrically arranged apartments, accessed vertically via the shared stairwell and corridors. The living areas are unusually high and spacious. Two historical surviving tiled stoves are located in two parlors; one of them is a decorative, cylindrical-shaped Classicist tiled stove – a rarity in Liechtenstein – built by the firm Schädler-Keramik in Nendeln, which has likely been in the Hagenhaus since 1837. The second tiled stove – also by Schädler-Keramik – was built in the 19th century. Several historic windows facing away from the street have also been preserved; those facing the street were modeled after their predecessors but fitted with modern sound and thermal insulation.

The biggest and most delightful surprise for both the foundation board members and the conservators came to light during the course of the construction work, after the 20th-century paneling was removed. Behind it, painted walls were revealed, with up to nine layers, the oldest of which proved to be the most valuable. Following extensive restoration, the living quarters now display this oldest layer of paintings, which varies from room to room. The new purpose of these rooms is to house students of the music academy, who live and practice there. The attic now houses a second faculty apartment in addition to the one in the washhouse. The one under the roof also serves as a meeting and teaching room.

The stable building has undergone a significant conversion. Where carts were once housed and hay was stacked, music now resounds. The historic beam structure was gently cleaned using a special process and, like the column-free roof truss in the residential building, now shines in a harmonious shade of yellow. The barn was also fitted with high-tech soundproof windows that meet the high standards required for a concert hall seating approximately 120 people. Wooden slats are mounted in front of the windows both inside and out, creating a striped pattern that changes depending on the position of the sun.

A Positive Summary

Marcus Büchel’s assessment of the results of the construction and restoration work, which lasted over two years, is more than just positive. «Overall, I was impressed that the interior has undergone hardly any changes since 1837. The door panels and the lattice windows have been preserved for the most part. There are many beautiful details: Baroque door hinges and Biedermeier-style ones. Unsurprisingly, the restoration challenges were greatest in the residential building: in addition to the paintings on the walls and ceilings, they primarily involved the plank floors, stoves, doors, and windows. «The staircase was completely dismantled, restored in Sigi Korner’s workshop, and reinstalled», Büchel says. The new use allows the main building to remain virtually unchanged from what it was. One might now think that, as a result of such a fundamental conversion of the entire complex, not a single stone was left standing. In fact, however, the entire masonry and the roof truss have been preserved completely intact. «This was possible because the structural integrity – contrary to the impression many had formed of the Hagenhaus – proved to be sound. Even the old roof tiles were re-laid in their original places. In general, later additions – particularly those from the 20th century – were removed or dismantled, and, where possible, the original condition was restored. The original woodwork has also been preserved. The overall result is truly impressive. A harmonious ensemble has been created, featuring many historical and architectural highlights. This was only made possible by generous supporters, skilled and highly creative planners and craftsmen, as well as exemplary collaboration.»

(Source: «lie:zeit», Issue 128, September 2024)

With a total floor area of 1,122 square meters and a volume of 6,000 cubic meters, the farmstead was classified as only a medium-sized construction project. However, according to the unanimous assessment of the experts, the complexity of the project and the demands placed on the craftsmen’s skills were exceptionally high.

As «arguably the best-preserved farmstead from the first half of the 19th century in Liechtenstein» (building analyst Peter Albertin in his architectural history report from 2006), the Hagenhaus farmstead is certainly of national significance. Its revitalization is, without exaggeration, one of the most significant renovations of historic buildings in Liechtenstein in recent years. In June 2024, work on this project was completed, and the Music Academy took the reins. Detailed information can be found in the commemorative publication attached below.

The fact that the revitalization of the Hagenhaus estate also won over the architectural community became evident in 2025: The firm Cukrowicz Nachbaur received two prestigious architecture awards for the complex in Nendeln: the «ICONIC AWARD» from the German Design Council and the «best architects award».

The latter is one of the most significant architecture awards and serves as a barometer of architectural development in the high-end segment. It is regarded as a seal of quality for outstanding architectural achievement and positions the award-winning architects at the forefront of the international architecture scene. The «ICONIC AWARD», on the other hand, takes an interdisciplinary approach and is considered one of the most prestigious prizes in Germany. The jury particularly highlighted the «wonderful reinterpretation» of the former barn with its adjustable wooden slats and the homogeneous facade design.

Dr. Marcus Büchel, President of the Foundation Board, expressed his great delight at the award: «This is likely the first time in Liechtenstein that a renovated historic building has been honored with two international awards for architectural excellence. Renovating the old structure while incorporating modern technical infrastructure and new additions was anything but a trivial task for the architects. The award represents a great honor and will serve as a powerful impetus for the preservation and revitalization of the country’s remaining historic buildings. The Hagenhaus Foundation is extremely pleased that our architects have received these awards. They have succeeded in creating something extraordinary – something that delights the heart and resonates with the soul.»

(Source: «lie:zeit», Issue 141, December 2025)