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residence eisersalzburg, austria - design 1997-2000
The starting point of this project was a steep slope and a site with an unconventional form - a challenging situation with some very positive aspects. One of the most interesting features of the site is its very impressive views. The building is positioned at the edge of a wood, close to a small brook; a glade in the woods allows a magnificent view of the nearby mountains. The intention was to focus on the qualities of these natural attributes of the surrounding landscape and feature them in the building as well as the living areas. Following this idea, the surrounding nature and vegetation on the site was kept in its original state.
The plot demanded a small footprint of the building and therefore a light and flexible construction. The building is basically a mixed structure of wood and steel. Thus it was possible to build a cantilevered structure on a small concrete base. The first floor is a continuous open area serving as the living space, which is extended through to a terrace above the brook. The living room is oriented to the south with a large-scale structural glazing facade. Individual rooms are grouped together and positioned on small steel columns above the living area. These rooms are south oriented and have a newly developed transparent solar facade. All infrastructural spaces (kitchen, bathroom, toilets, garage) are located on the northern side. The two parts of the building are separated by a glass element This solar wall was developed in cooperation with a research centre in Linz, Austria. With a thickness of only 5cm this "solarwabe" shortens the heating period for the building by providing better insulation than a brick wall of 40cm. Technically, this system consists of a cardboard element within two glass panels, serving as a translucent wall element. A standard aluminium facade system was used as the basic framing system to keep costs as low as possible.
The residence was overall very cheap to build, its main distinction being the unique site and the challenges posed by its location.
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