The desire for a place of retreat, a refuge and a family-owned hillside meadow property were the deciding factors in building this house in the Carinthian town of Trebesing.
The property, adjacent to the grandparents' farm, with a slope of up to 34%, is located in the district of Zlatting at the upper end of the village. Below this, the Liesertal stretches as a large north-south incision and offers a wide view of the Katschberg to the north and the Karawanken to the south. Opposite, on the other side of the valley, rises the Tschiernock, just over two thousand meters high, part of the Nockberge. The property is a mineral spring protection area and, with its large meadow area, serves as a source of food for the cattle of the neighbouring farm. This is of essential importance for the family-related business. Despite the new building, the slope is to remain a cow pasture and source of food and to be changed as little as possible.
The small house, with almost 70 square meters of usable space, was placed at a distance on the site in order to minimize the intervention in the slope. Resting on a steel framework, the floor of the prefabricated wooden structure follows the course of the slope in order to detach itself from it in the section on the valley side and stretch towards the valley. Under the house, the soil-conserving construction method leaves a habitat for flora and fauna. Precipitation water seeps away openly.
The conical floor plan, which opens on the valley side, reinforces the orientation towards the valley area. The two large, symmetrically arranged corner glazing directs the eye towards the two sides of the valley. Here you like to sit for breakfast, enjoy the morning sun coming over the mountain and the wide view.
The slope determines the exterior shape as well as the spatial structure inside. Four levels connected by steps are assigned to the various living areas - sleeping, recreation, cooking, eating/living.
The outer shell forms an overall space divided by the levels, a room volume, with clear heights of 2.5m to 3.6m. At the top of the slope, low and intimate, is the sleeping level, below the bathroom and entrance level, followed by the narrow kitchen platform above the living/dining area with a terrace in front. Steps cascade along the course of the long sides. Window openings at both ends extend the cascade into the landscape.
By dividing it into four levels, the slope can be experienced in the daily use of the interiors. Due to the short flights of stairs, this is not perceived as a burden, but as an enrichment.
Source: MORPHO-LOGIC
Photos: Michael Heinrich
Isometrics + parts of the drawings: Julia Maria Küker in seminar FASSADE4.0 at TUK
