Marte.Marte Architekten ZT GmbH

House by the Lake

HOUSE BY THE LAKE

Marte.Marte Architects

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Bernhard Marte, Stefan Marte

HEATING
Steurer, Andelsbuch

DRYWALL INSTALLATION
Kurzemann Dornbirn

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT
Moosbrugger Ingenieure ZT GmbH, Dornbirn

SURVEYOR
Wolfgang Mattner

BUILDING CONTRACTOR
Oberhauser & Schedler

ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Schelling, Schwarzach

CONSTRUCTION PHYSICS
Weithas, Hard

GROUND ENGINEERING
3P Geotechnik, Lauterach

HEATING/SANITATION
Steurer, Andelsbuch

ALUMINIUM WINDOWS
Manahl, Bings

SOLAR PROTECTION
Markus Berthold

SANITATION
Steurer, Andelsbuch

AREA
277 m²

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Bregenz, Austria

CATEGORY
Houses

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

Text description provided by architect.

A group of middle-class houses, mainly built in the first half of the 20th century, are located above the Herz-Jesu church at the foot of the prominent Pfänder mountainside in Bregenz.

The size of the house blends in with the other sporadic, villa-like houses, and the compact, square exposed concrete structure has identical facades on all sides, except for the west side of the house facing the lake. Owing to the steep slope of the property, two of the four levels are cut into the hillside.

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten
House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

Users coming home by bicycle or car enter the house by the driveway, which is a little below road level, and then disappear into a spacious, multi-functional room. Access to the elevator is available on this level, which means that the house is barrier-free.

Visitors arriving on foot reach the front door by climbing the stairs on the north side. A granny flat on this level offers users a variety of options for the future, which can be used for now as an office or a den, including a view of the lake while exercising or sitting in the sauna.

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten
House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

A central staircase tower leads up to the bedroom level and above it the actual beletage greets visitors with a breathtaking 360° view.

A real panorama opens up to users between balcony and porch roof, capturing the atmosphere of the lake and the sky, putting the city at the users’ feet and bringing the mountain right into the house.

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten
House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

The sheltering gesture of the two hat-like brims, above and below, is balanced spatially by the extra height of the room. Together they create a sense of intimacy and a feeling of safety, although the room is also very transparent.

The horizontal matte windows focus and capture the eye and curtains on all four sides provide absolute privacy at night. A walkway on the slope side provides access to the outdoors. Placing the structure on the street has resulted in a large sloping yard to the southeast.

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten
House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten

This runs along a steep flight of stairs at the edge of the property, which ensures public thoroughfare through the area.

This building with its idiosyncratic combination of distinctive style and wit seems homogeneous and hermetic to those on the outside, while at the same time interacting with its surroundings in a very subtle and deliberate way.

House by the Lake
Courtesy of Marte Marte Architekten


House by the Lake
Section
House by the Lake
Elevation


House by the Lake
Floor Plan

Marte.Marte Architekten ZT GmbH
T +43 5522 35485
Marte.Marte Architekten ZT GmbH
Neustadt 37, 6800 Feldkirch, Austria