Feldkirch Sickhouse

Feldkirch Sickhouse, also known as the Siechenhaus, is a historic building complex in Feldkirch, in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is not a commercial brand but a culturally significant monument associated with the medieval and early modern history of the city. The site stands on the Reichsstraße, the road leading toward Dornbirn, in the Levis district within the Altenstadt cadastral community. The Catholic Church of St. Magdalena is immediately adjacent to the south. The institution originated in the 14th century as a leprosy house located outside the then-settled area of Feldkirch. Its position beyond the city reflects the separation commonly used for facilities serving people with infectious diseases during the medieval period. The neighboring Magdalenenkirche also dates from the 14th century and formed part of the historical setting of the infirmary. A major fire in 1557 severely damaged the church, and the Sickhouse may have been damaged or destroyed at the same time. The surviving group of two buildings was erected in the late 16th or early 17th century. The oldest sections of the present main building date from this rebuilding period. The complex was probably enlarged during the 17th century with an eastern extension and a northern annex. Its timber-framed façade is regarded as an exceptional architectural feature in Vorarlberg, where such buildings are comparatively uncommon. The institution was historically supported by nearby meadows and fields; these properties were sold to a local manufacturer in 1847. The building had several later community uses. After Feldkirch's high school was badly damaged in a major fire on 6 August 1697, the Sickhouse briefly served as emergency accommodation for educational purposes. During the 20th century it provided housing for impoverished families. On 13 April 1985, the main building began operating as a youth hostel, giving the historic structure a continuing public use and making it one of the better-known hostel sites in Vorarlberg. The smaller outbuilding has a more infrastructural contemporary role. It was converted into a shelter for a bus stop, while the building also serves as an entrance to a pedestrian underpass beneath the Reichsstraße. A modern bus stop using glass and concrete was installed on the opposite side of the road. Together, the preserved historic buildings, the adjacent church, and the modern transport facilities illustrate the site's transition from a medieval medical institution to a protected heritage location integrated into the urban environment. Feldkirch Sickhouse is listed as an Austrian monument of cultural significance. Its importance lies in the survival of a rare institutional building type, its timber-framed architecture, its connection with the history of disease care and social welfare, and its adaptation to later civic and hospitality uses.

Feldkirch Sickhouse, known in German as the Siechenhaus, began as a leprosy house founded outside the medieval city of Feldkirch in the 14th century. Its location beyond the urban settlement was consistent with the period's practice of placing facilities for people with contagious diseases away from densely populated areas. The adjacent Church of St. Magdalena, or Magdalenenkirche, also has 14th-century origins and provides important historical context for the site. The early structure may have been destroyed or severely damaged in 1557, when a fire caused major damage to the neighboring church. The present main building belongs principally to a later rebuilding phase in the late 16th or early 17th century. The complex was likely expanded during the 17th century, including an eastern extension and a northern annex. Its timber-framed façade is an uncommon architectural feature in Vorarlberg and contributes substantially to the site's heritage value. The Sickhouse was supported historically by agricultural land, including meadows and fields in its vicinity. Those properties were sold to a local manufacturer in 1847, marking a change in the economic basis of the institution. The building also acquired temporary civic importance after Feldkirch's high school was damaged in a large fire on 6 August 1697. For a short period, the Sickhouse was used as emergency accommodation connected with educational activities. In the 20th century, the former infirmary was used as accommodation for families living in poverty. This social-housing role preceded its later conversion to hospitality use. On 13 April 1985, a youth hostel opened in the main building. The hostel's operation preserved a practical function for the structure while allowing its historic fabric and distinctive façade to remain part of Feldkirch's built environment. The outbuilding was subsequently adapted for transport infrastructure. It now functions as a shelter for a bus stop and provides access to a pedestrian underpass beneath the Reichsstraße. A newer bus stop, constructed with glass and concrete, stands across the road. These additions demonstrate how the site has been incorporated into modern circulation systems without eliminating the historic buildings. The two-building group is recognized as an Austrian monument of cultural significance. Its historical relevance derives from its medieval institutional origins, its rebuilding after the early modern period, its architectural form, and its successive uses as emergency accommodation, housing, youth accommodation, and transport-related infrastructure. The site therefore represents both the history of care institutions in Feldkirch and the adaptive reuse of a protected historic building.

• 1985

  Opening as a youth hostel

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  A youth hostel opened in the main building on 13 April 1985.

• 1847

  Sale of supporting agricultural land

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  Meadows and fields that had helped support the Sickhouse were sold to a local manufacturer.

• 1697

  Temporary emergency educational use

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  Following a major fire at Feldkirch's high school on 6 August, the Sickhouse briefly provided emergency accommodation for educational purposes.

• 1557

  Fire damages the neighboring church

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire severely damaged St. Magdalena Church; the earlier Sickhouse may also have been damaged or destroyed.

• Foundation as a leprosy house

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  A leprosy house was established outside the medieval city of Feldkirch. The neighboring Magdalenenkirche also dates from this period.

• Rebuilding of the present complex

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The oldest surviving parts of the current Sickhouse buildings were erected during this period.

• Expansion of the buildings

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The complex was probably enlarged with an eastern extension and a northern annex.

• Use as housing for impoverished families

  [1]Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The historic building served as accommodation for families in poverty.

A protected historic site and adaptive-reuse landmark rather than a commercial consumer brand.

1. 1Feldkirch Sickhouseen.wikipedia.org