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SERIEN LEHRJAHRE BEI ... • WORKING AT ...

made solid glass. We carved out habitable window niches from the thick walls. Thus,
despite the thickness of the walls, the house did not sacrifice any living space but gained
special living areas. Once you have climbed the narrow spiral staircase in the centre, the
living space, up to six metres high, opens up above the three massive storeys, boasting
a spectacular panoramic view and several outdoor areas. After the preliminary design, I
was gradually entrusted with the submission and implementation planning. Thus the
house became my very first building site experience.

r It sounds like one is allowed to take on responsibility very quickly in the office if
one has the right aptitude. What was your greatest personal learning effect?
During the eighteen months I spent in the office, I was mainly involved in implementation
planning, most of which was carried out. I was totally absorbed in it! I was amazed at
the designs and gave my all. The intensive dialogue with Armin and Alex always revealed
new perspectives to me. Another incentive was to work on projects that were not only
prototypical in themselves but for an entire area, for example, because a material that is
not yet widely used, such as insulating concrete, was being explored. I really enjoyed the
dialogue in the office and with the extremely experienced planners and craftsmen. I was
constantly learning something new. On the construction site, I learned the most – some-
times in the most painful way. There, graduates quickly feel when something is drawn
Firmensitz Beton Eisack in Klausen: Mit grünem ... • Beton Eisack headquarters in Klausen: with green ... too naively or when one of the many significant details has been disregarded for too long.
A few times, someone from the construction site called me at seven in the morning – ur-
... Leichtbeton, vom Bauherrn entwickelt, ... • ... lightweight concrete, developed by the client, ... gent problem. So you know before breakfast that you will only get through the day with
a lot of stamina. During the sampling sessions, I learned a lot about surfaces and crafts-
manship methods. For me, there is something very touching about being able to experi-
ence the results of such intensive cooperation in reality at the end.

r What other projects were you involved in?
My very first task was the detailed design for a small village inn and shop. The project
eventually ended up in the drawer, but at first I had enormous respect for the responsi-
bility I had been given. For the Atto Suites in San Candido and the new company head-
quarters of Beton Eisack in Chiusa, I was allowed to support the implementation plan-
ning in important phases. These were insulating concrete projects, too, and even more
complex than House G. Here, the biggest challenges did not concern the content. Rather,
it was a matter of maintaining an overview of the planning team and clearly communi-
cating the goals. As a soon-to-be architect full of ideals, however, the learning effect also
involved recognising the moment when it is better to deviate from one’s opinion and
jointly develop a justifiable compromise. Surprisingly, studies at the HfT in Stuttgart came
quite close to the planning reality in this aspect.

r In Germany, there is a growing shortage of skilled workers. What has been your
impression of the much-vaunted know-how of craft enterprises in the Alpine region?
South Tyrol is also experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. But the centuries-old tra-
... entstand 2022 eine kontemplative Arbeitswelt. • ... a contemplative working environment was created. dition of many trades still lives on. In many valleys, people have specialised in certain
trades, and their knowledge has been passed on and developed over the centuries. There
is a drive for innovation even in the smallest craft enterprises. Even as a regional busi-
ness, one wants to be able to hold one’s own against global industry. I have the impres-
sion that it is precisely this competition that gives rise to the most impressive things. A
master carpenter manufactures better and more beautiful windows than the dozen-
strong development department of many an international manufacturer. Tradition is a
powerful home advantage. But moving new developments or recollection also need a
meaningful cause, namely specific projects. So, as everywhere, it is up to architects and
clients to challenge and promote the crafts. It is unbelievably beautiful to be able to think
of new architecture in complete freedom and to know that there are experienced, moti-
vated teams that can almost always build it, even if it involves pioneering work.

r You have been taking care of the office’s public relations for some time now. What
do you consider to be part of this task?
I mainly take care of the website, I inform the media about newly completed buildings,
answer press enquiries and oversee the submission of projects to international awards.
In the meantime, I have also been allowed to give German- and English-language project
Fotos: Gustav Willeit architekten and to pass it on in Bruneck. Such experiences motivate me all the more in
presentations. It is a privilege to be able to be given much praise for the work of pedevilla

my project work for the office.

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