Outside Hamburg, an architect transforms a former watermill

In the Wendland region of northern Germany, around 100km southeast of Hamburg, an 1881 watermill sits beside its own lake, surrounded by meadows, streams and mature trees. The building occupies a long-established agricultural site, where milling activity shaped both the structure and the landscape for centuries before its recent conversion into a private house.

Completed in 2021, the renovation was led by architect Daniel Schöning in collaboration with developer Martin Blau. The approach retained the mill’s structural framework, with exposed historic beams, restored and soaped timber floorboards, and original elements such as the millstone incorporated into the interior. These sit alongside modern interventions including underfloor heating, modern bathrooms and updated building services.

The house extends across three floors, offering 10 rooms and five bathrooms within approximately 484sqm of living space. Two custom oak kitchens serve open-plan cooking and dining areas on the ground and upper levels, paired with fine-pored concrete worktops, a steel stair and brass fittings. A self-contained guesthouse with its own kitchen and bathroom adds flexibility, while a double barn with an existing building permit allows for future event or hospitality use.

The grounds span roughly four hectares and include a private mill pond, orchard, meadows and a boat dock. Wildlife remains a visible presence across the site, reinforcing the sense of seclusion. The property is listed for €1.95 million with OTHERHOMES.