Project: Bregenzerwald Cabin
Architects: Architektur SCHWEIGHOFER, Stefan Schweighofer
Location: Bregenzerwald, Austria
Year: 2020
After inspection of the 60`s container home it was clear that an extension or repurposing of the building was economically not viable. We made the decision to reuse the existing foundations and their dimensions for a new building that could house the clients whole family.
Our goal was to keep proportions, form and orientation in line with the surrounding buildings and still achieve a modern confident building that represents the regional construction methods. With that the decision for a solid wood construction was clear, as it offered not only structural and thermic advantages, but made for a very authentic and warm surface on the inside. Wall and ceiling elements were prefabricated with the necessary openings for installation, which required precise planning on our part.
The window openings were placed to provide specific viewing angles of the surrounding Bregenzerwald forest. Its remote location beneath the end of the nearby road makes al 70 steps long stairway the only possible access route.
To make for a more suitable entrance the building was moved 1.5 meters southwards. The concrete base of the building extends into a small entrance square that is framed by a fountain in the north. Through the slope adjusted construction and split levels, additional living space was created. It also allows for a unique and three-dimensional living experience. The downstairs bathroom for example gets natural light through a glass slit under the living room stairway.
Another important element of this project, Bregenzerwald Cabin is the contrast between cozy introverted spaces and open, outgoing ones. The bedrooms are kept purposely small with low ceilings, perfect for privacy and intimacy.
The kitchen, dining area and living room on the other hand span over several levels and can be opened up towards the scenery through a big sliding window. The change in elevation makes the living space more intimate, without loosing connection to dining and kitchen. And as is commonplace for cabins in the northern hemisphere a furnace in black steel is the centerpiece of the living space.
