Residential Buildings

Stürcherwald House 

Laterns, Austria

View from North 1 | View from North
The building reanimates a traditional way of construction using a modern design vocabulary without resorting to the clichés of conventional cottages.
Design: The small settlement of Stürcherwald, located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, is home to this house. Built on a very steep south-facing slope, the building cites the traditional typology of the “Walserhaus” block house, but also very consciously sets itself apart from it, placing itself firmly in the current day and age. The unpretentious longitudinal building features a pitched roof and a structured timber facade. All areas for the basic activities of daily living, such as the dining and living areas, are situated at the entrance level, while the private rooms (bed rooms and bathroom) are placed more subtly on the floor above. The narrow and strictly organized floor plan allows for a maximized sunlight exposition of the main floor – a considerable improvement of the quality of life in the mountains, especially in the winter months.

Wood: The use of local larch and its nuanced surface treatment from outside (rough-cut) to inside affirms the solitary appearance of the building. Ceilings and walls were constructed using timber elements, while the roof was clad with tin.
View from East 2 | View from East
Living area 3 | Living area
Dining area – kitchen – living area 4 | Dining area – kitchen – living area
3m
Basic information
Year of Completion |  2015
Investor |  Private
Architecture |  Bernardo Bader Architekten, Dornbirn (AT)
Structural Engineering |  Merz Kley Partner, Dornbirn (AT)
Number of floors |  2 + basement
Plot size |  1 000 m²
Gross floor area |  253 m²
Awards |  Vorarlberger Holzbaupreis 2017 (Prize), Häuser des Jahres 2017 (Recognition)
Photography |  Pictures 1-4: Gustav Willeit, Zurich (CH)

Technical aspects
Concept |  Timber element construction (larch) on solid basement level
Woodworking |  Dobler Holzbau GmbH, Röthis (AT)
Origin of Timber, Certification |  Austria (Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Styria)
Traceability of Timber |  Yes (all companies named)
Forestry Value Chain |  Commissioning of local companies
Energy Efficiency Standard |  Energy performance certificate, heating energy demand “B”
Energy Systems |  Air heat pump system, fireplace
Energy Consumption  |  36,5 kWh/m²a (heating energy demand), 106 kWh/m²a (primary energy demand)
U-Value Wall | Roof | Floor | Windows (W/(m²K)) |  0,23 (average)


Energy Efficiency


Site plan with settlement Site plan with settlement Floor Plan (Ground Floor) Floor Plan (Ground Floor) Cross Section Cross Section