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BÜRO UND VERWALTUNG • OFFICE BUILDINGS TECHNISCHER AUSBAU • TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Die wabenhaft strukturierte Holzlattung an der Fassade ... • The honeycomb-structured wooden slats on the facade ...

Inszenierung von Georg Bechter Licht in dunklen Schaukästen • Staging of Georg Bechter Licht in dark display cases ... schafft einen gelungenen Übergang zwischen „Alt“ und Neu. • ... create a seamless transition between „old“ and new.

M y company building is located in Hittisau in the Vorarlberg Bregenzerwald. new were combined to form a coherent whole, and yet the natural patina of the mate-
rial will allow the history of the extension to remain visible for some time to come.
Commercial, agricultural and green spaces are interspersed between residential
buildings. People have been living and working side by side here for decades. This is Building always requires a high input of energy and resources, even when renewable
also the case in the Dorf plot, where the large structure only catches the eye at second and regional building materials are used. This makes it all the more important that
glance. Just a few years ago, cows were stabled here. Today, the diagonal wooden the building lasts over the long term. Therefore, the variability of use and expandabili-
cladding creates a honeycomb-like structure, the delicacy of which hints at the new ty were central aspects for the design and construction of the extension.
use inside. And another thing becomes visible on the façade when you get closer:
work was recently carried out here. Five years ago, I, as an architect and lighting 12 metres of column-free space with solid wood and concrete
designer, converted my father’s former stable into an architectural office and a lighting
manufactory: using wood, straw, clay and sheep’s wool. Today, the existing building Whereas the low ceilings of the former stable presented a challenge and the existing
has an extension built with solid wood and straw – renewable raw materials from the structure defined many aspects, the extension offered the opportunity for generous
region. The saw mill that processes the wood from the surrounding forests is located rooms that are flexible in their long-term use. This is made possible by the combina-
across the street. The carpenter with the necessary knowledge and commitment to tion of 20 centimetres of solid wood and 12 centimetres of concrete, which spans the
realize the entire building without glued wood and exclusively in solid wood comes room depth of 12 metres without any columns, thus enabling the rooms to be used
from the neighbouring village. The structures are designed in such a way that they can in different ways. In order to be able to operate at the location in the long term, the
easily be taken apart and composted. Instead of board materials, rough-sawn solid extension has been designed in such a way that it can be built on in the future. The
wood formwork was used to finish the timber frame construction on the inside and feasibility of future expansion has been considered in the design of the exterior spaces
outside. In between lies the wooden structure with a clear distance of 50 centimetres and the access road to the underground car park, as well as at the constructive level.
to the straw bales filling the outer walls and the top floor. A vapour barrier made of The support of an additional ceiling is already prepared in the construction of the
oiled paper, rough-sawn wooden cladding and a beechwood parquet floor – grown outer wall. I have dedicated my work to sustainability and beauty and am convinced
just a few kilometres away in our own forest – close off the room on the inside. On the that good design and beauty can make a significant contribution to the sustainable
outside, the wooden façade of the existing building was continued. The old and the use of resources. What is perceived as beautiful will be cared for over the long term. It

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