Well-tempered

A fireplace becomes the center of the house in winter (a hot spot). A suspended ceiling reduces the size of a room, making it easier to heat (spatial compression). A sleeping accommodation such as an alcove retains body heat and doesn't necessarily require external energy sources (a cocoon).

The exhibition "Well-Tempered. For Climate-Friendly Architecture!" focuses on traditional building culture and explores which building forms and material choices enable a comfortable temperature for people in rooms – and what consequences this could have for future construction. It thus contributes to the debate on energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, and the energy transition.

Without complex technology such as heat pumps or solar modules, traditional building culture – so-called vernacular architecture – impresses with its clever design and effective use of energy. It draws on local resources and takes regional weather and climate conditions into account. Nevertheless, there are recurring building and energy principles. The exhibition makes five of them accessible and tangible.

The core of the exhibition consists of over 50 examples of traditional building culture from across Europe, compiled by numerous architects. Divided according to their construction principles, these are presented with photographs and texts, creating a comprehensive "atlas."

The exhibition was taken over by the Museum of Architecture in Ljubljana (MAO) and was shown in the Slovenian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2023. In addition to the MAO, two young architectural firms from Ljubljana are leading the way. Unlike in Venice, at the Molfsee Open-Air Museum, we can directly connect with the historic buildings in the open-air grounds. The exhibition thus offers a new perspective on traditional buildings and once again highlights the stimulating potential and informative value of our largest collection objects for contemporary construction.

A booklet specifically for the open-air grounds is available, featuring a quiz that invites you to explore the exhibition's themes in more depth in the buildings. We also invite you to consider how we want to live in the future.