A rental property with less than 100 m² was actually supposed to be built on the 540 m² plot. “I openly told the client that I couldn’t go along with this plan and asked if I could make a proposal for a larger volume,” says Lukas Peter Mähr from MWArchitekten, explaining the start of the design. The idea was well received by the client and the idea was also welcomed by the city authorities.

In dialog with the city and the design advisory board, the architect “carved” the timber construction to 100m² of floor space, as far as was possible under building law. Up to the kink in the gable, the building is in the existing cubature; beyond that, it is shaped in accordance with building regulations. This makes the gabled space on the third floor unique in terms of room height and views. The unusual shape can also be experienced inside the space, which is currently used as an office. “We generally think of our projects in terms of scenarios,” adds Mähr, referring to the possible subsequent use or conversion of the two upper floors. All the building services connections required for residential use are also available on the top floor. Below the office is an apartment with 80 m² of living space. On the ground floor there is another with 100 m². Next to it is the access core, which serves as a connecting wing. This follows the roof contour of the existing building.

Building on, thinking ahead

The redensification is a timber frame construction from ground level with solid timber ceilings. The stairwell and steps are concreted for structural and sound insulation reasons. There is a hybrid transition at the dividing wall to the neighboring building, as it was necessary to react to the conditions of the existing natural stone wall. Clay building boards were also used, with plasterboard only being used in the wet rooms. “If clients value the existing building, then they are those who are also receptive to other ecological building materials, such as clay,” says Mähr, speaking from experience. And the master timber builder Dietmar Berchtold also finds the combination harmonious: “The synergy of wood and clay is not only sustainable, but also creates an environment that combines closeness to nature and efficiency.A good choice for an environmentally friendly construction method.”The impact sound insulation works in the traditional way via a floating screed.The interior rooms have a native ash floor.

The impact sound insulation works in the classic way via a floating screed. The interior rooms have a local ash floor. A lot of wood was also used for the interior fittings. Due to the high requirements, expertise was needed, which fortunately was available regionally. The interior work was carried out with such care that the wood used was not only of the same species, but even came from the same tree and was delivered to various trades for production. “That really only works with regional companies. And you can see this commitment.” The building has the Vorarlberg environmental label “Holz von Hier”, which documents the above-average short distances along the entire supply chain.

Guided into creative thinking

Under strict building law, the densification project would have failed in this form. But: “In Vorarlberg, there is the tool of distance forbearance.Every neighbor can give their consent to waive the legally prescribed minimum distance.Of course, only up to the fire protection limit. This option is essential for high-density construction.We need this consent for almost all of our office’s projects,” explains Mähr. This was also the case for the project in the Altes Quartier. This was not the first existing project for Mähr. On the contrary: almost every one of his projects touches on existing buildings in some way. In addition, ecological construction is a necessity for him within reasonable limits.

“Nobody needs to come to me if they want a house in exposed concrete or a polystyrene thermal insulation composite system,” says the architect. He loves the challenge of being led by the existing building into even more creative architectural thinking. “This creates spaces that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.” Of course, building in existing structures involves additional work, but none of those involved shy away from it. The timber construction contractor Dietmar Berchtold is certain: “Renovating or modernizing existing buildings is more sustainable than building new ones, as existing resources are used and less waste is produced. They can also be more cost-efficient than new builds in the long term.” If he had to estimate the proportion of his company’s business accounted for by work on existing buildings, it would currently be 70%. Previously, this field accounted for half of his company’s activities.

Who wants to share their property?

So neither the architect nor the timber construction company is afraid of the existing building. So why don’t they see more happening in this area? Mähr also works for the Vorarlberg Energy Institute as a refurbishment consultant and partner company. This gives him an insight into the existing building situation in the state. When it comes to densification projects and multi-generational living, the architect sees the will of the owners as an obstacle. “Many people find it difficult to share their own property, the land, with others.” What often works within the family still falters in the wider community. “The topic of multi-generational living, which is on everyone’s mind right now, has enormous potential.” But Mähr is certain that architecture can create incentives and even lead to benefits in social interaction. Examples from the history of architecture prove this view time and again. And what role does timber construction play in this? A big one, both are certain. Both in terms of atmosphere and design. A big one, both are certain. Both in terms of atmosphere and design. “When it comes to adding storeys, there’s no getting around wood as a building material anyway,” Mähr is convinced. The field for timber construction will therefore remain diverse and wide in the future.

Text: Birgit Gruber
Photos: Adolf Bereuter

Despite this, the owners of the intergenerational house in a small mountain village in Vorarlberg decided to preserve the building fabric as much as possible. The reason can be found in the history of the building, as Lukas Mähr from MWArchitekten explains: “The family originally built the house themselves and implemented it to a very high standard. The existing building therefore contained good materials and a lot of passion.” For the conversion, Mähr pursued the concept of an enclosing wooden shell. It transforms the conglomerate of residential building and double garage into a homogeneous whole that now sits naturally in its place. The location of the house posed a number of challenges due to the access situation and the existing building density. The small village, situated above the Rhine Valley and accessible by car via winding roads, has a historically evolved core. Traditional wooden buildings with mixed residential and agricultural use characterize the village. Everything is connected via narrow and steep alleyways – and so access was one of the first problems the architect had to solve. In order to create more living space, the garage originally located on the ground floor was moved to the northern side of the basement, which sits on a slope. To make the driveway work, the owners are now allowed to maneuver at the neighbor’s house opposite.

New spatial zoning

The relocation of the garage enabled a new zoning of the ground floor, whereby the architect adhered to the original division of the concrete garage and masonry house: The former outer wall of the building to the north now serves as a partition wall for two residential units, each spread over the ground floor and first floor. The former garage to the north now houses a 75 m² granny apartment. The south-facing main house offers 175 m² of space for a family of five. Both have separate entrances, but have access to the basement staircase via appropriately positioned doors inside. It is part of the former main access in the form of a double-flight staircase that leads to the upper floor in the family apartment. In the granny annexe, this is done by a new staircase in the living area. In doing so, Mähr ensured that the spatial zoning was retained as far as possible and that the building fabric was preserved. An existing masonry wall in the larger apartment separates the living room on the street side from the dining and cooking area on the slope side. At the same time, it is perforated by sliding doors that create flowing spatial transitions. In contrast to the two storeys below, the first floor is a new timber-frame construction with cellulose insulation. It replaces the old loft, which had a knee height that was too low. The additional room height meant that three bedrooms, a large study and two bathrooms could be accommodated in the family home. The floor plan is flexible and can be reconfigured without major construction work. One example is the study, which is connected to the dining and cooking area below by an air space. It can be converted into a separate bedroom, as the division of the south-facing French doors allows the docking of a new partition wall.

Precise filter

For the central theme of the design, the enclosing shell, Mähr was inspired by the surrounding buildings: “The traditional local houses with their pragmatic wooden architecture, the solid plinth and the simple board cladding for the façade had a strong influence on the design. Typical of the local architecture is also a front area, for example in the form of a crested roof, which forms a buffer zone between the private and the public,” he says of the concept. Similar to the floor plan, the new façade also responds to the existing building. The existing window openings in the basement and ground floor were either retained or slightly modified in some places – such as the ribbon window to the left of the entrance, which originally consisted of two openings. Vertical silver fir battens serve as a weather shell for the timber and masonry walls. It surrounds the house and partially covers the windows in the form of individual slats. On the one hand, this provides the necessary privacy from the neighbors due to the high building density. On the other hand, it holds the building together. In order to create a homogeneous cubature on the entrance side to the east, the previously recessed outer wall of the former garage on the ground floor was adapted to the alignment of the residential building. The new entrance with the two apartment doors is now set back in the façade and defines a sheltered front area.

A defining element of the façade is the spatial filter with perforated wooden slats, which Mähr arranged as a protruding wooden construction on the slope side of the building. It replaces an elongated concrete balcony, but unlike the latter it does not cantilever out, but stands with its supports on a small projection on the edge of the slope. It encloses the plinth area in the basement as a kind of shed, which was left plastered white. The theme of the homogeneous shell is thus consistently continued. At the same time, the filter provides protected outdoor areas on the two floors above thanks to suspended wooden platforms.

Generous openings interweave the exterior with the interior. The dining area opens up in the larger apartment with windows and sliding glass doors around the corner to a wrap-around balcony, which can also be used by the granny apartment. The slats are perforated in such a way that they function as a privacy screen from the neighbors and still allow views, as Mähr explains: “We experimented a lot with the distance between the wooden slats and built different patterns to achieve the right ratio of open and closed.” There are also specific cut-outs in the battens, which allow impressive views of the neighboring local mountain and the Rhine Valley, including Lake Constance, without disturbing the compact appearance of the building.

Graphic facade

The precision craftsmanship of the filter is also impressive: the slats were designed as dovetail joints, which creates a calm and well-proportioned appearance. The panes of the glass balustrade do not require any visible connecting elements and are instead framed in cut-outs on the load-bearing supports. Another successful detail is the rear ventilation of the façade, which consists of circular holes and discreetly contributes to the graphic appearance. The desire for precision craftsmanship is also reflected in the interior. One example is the dining area in the family home, whose two-storey walls, including the spanning pitched roof, are clad in untreated silver fir. Despite its seemingly sacred height, the room becomes a cozy living area with a seating niche. The rest of the furniture as well as the adjoining kitchen or the built-in cupboards in the access areas were also planned by the architect, as Mähr explains: “We take great care to ensure that the local woods we use, such as ash for the floor, furniture and doors or silver fir for the windows and cladding, form a homogeneous whole when used together.” This results in a harmonious overall picture, both inside and out, which at no time shows that this is a conversion. In the end, the decision to retain the existing building also paid off financially for the clients, as the onset of supply difficulties drove up the prices of new building products. The project is a good example of how the decision to preserve a building can make ecological and economic sense. All the better if it results in successful architecture.

Review: Alexander Russ
Photos: Adolf Bereuter

Accordingly, the architects also “designed the future” when renovating and extending a detached house from the 1980s: it now offers the original owner and two further generations comfortable and tailor-made space. The old house has already been reorganized several times and adapted to the changing needs of the family. The building is beautifully situated: it is embedded in the historically grown village, on the edge of the Rhine Valley slope, with views from Lake Constance deep into the Alps. The architects were commissioned to finally reorganize and redesign the “existing patchwork” in accordance with the family’s wishes and the exceptional location in terms of landscape and architecture. In doing so, they were guided by the local architectural history: the historic buildings are clearly divided into solid, plastered plinth basement storeys in contact with the ground, on which wooden structures with a simple cubature sit. Their façades open up “where it has to be”, explain the architects.

The basement and first floor have been renovated and converted, and the residential units are accessed at street level. However, the upper floor had to be removed due to the low ceiling height: The new top floor was created using timber construction. Today, the larger first floor apartment opens up over two storeys to below the ridge. A circumferential screen of vertical, natural silver fir slats envelops the compact structure on the slightly sloping plot. Depending on its orientation, it is closed, semi-transparent or transparent, it opens up towards the view and the garden, while towards the street it is more or less closed. The spacing between the existing building and the filigree shell also creates pleasant spaces that can be used as terraces, balconies or loggias. In the interiors, too, finely detailed and precisely crafted wooden surfaces and fixtures replace the originally heterogeneous materials and furniture.

Text: Bettina Hintze

“Low-lying veils of mist gently drift over green slopes, the angular mountain peaks of the Alps seem close enough to touch. In the distance, the smooth water surface of Lake Constance sparkles in the morning light, while the first rays of sunlight are already beginning to slowly dissolve the still life scenery. A new day is dawning and the Generationenhaus mit Blick – the house for generations with a view – seems ready for whatever it may bring.”

A home with a view

When Lukas Peter Mähr was faced with the task of transforming an existing single-family home from the 1980s into a sustainable multi-generational house for the private building owners, the architect was not very comfortable with a simple renovation. The realisation that a radical facelift was needed in order to act in a far-sighted and prudent manner brought about the decisive step towards a solution: a renovation and extension of the building, which had been inhomogeneously adapted several times over the years by the owner himself, in the spirit of the original building characteristics of the Vorarlberg townscape. Thus, a clear and simple cubature made of wood now stands on the massive storey in contact with the earth, with openings where they make sense: a house that humbly fits into the historically grown building structures and – situated on the slope edge of the Rhine valley – opens up magnificent views of Lake Constance and deep into the Alps. But the project also demonstrates true foresight with regard to numerous other aspects.

Building for tomorrow

„If you’re going to spend money, then create something solid and lasting for the future.“ Many people today think like the owners of the Generationenhaus mit Blick, not least because energy is becoming more and more expensive and resources are becoming scarcer. A rethink also seems to be slowly taking place with regard to unchecked soil sealing and urban sprawl. The sharing economy is becoming increasingly attractive and its advantages are coming into focus for many. Even if multi-generational living is experiencing an apparent hype in this spirit, the concept is nothing new: until a century ago, it was perfectly normal for families to live in one house for generations. Only the building typologies at that time were geared to corresponding use from the outset – even if architecture alone cannot be the means to an end here. In order to be able to live harmoniously under one roof in the wider family circle, a certain mindset is required.

Life as a community of interest

However, Mähr does not see the concept of multi-party living as just a family matter: “Regardless of whether they are family members or like-minded people – it must be clear to those involved that they will want to share an entrance, garden or even a car in the future.” So in addition to the structural change, a change in thinking must also take place so that living together under one roof can proceed smoothly. In the long run, we will probably not get around this anyway: While in urban areas or for the well-heeled there are often sufficient offers to meet the loneliness of old age or the demands of young families, the multigenerational model offers considerable advantages, especially in rural areas. In addition to the practical babysitting service or the shared shopping, it is above all about mutual respect, a certain degree of privacy and honest communication.

One model for all?

Even though urban sprawl and agglomeration in major cities around the globe pose similar challenges, there is never one building solution. Today, family members often live hundreds or thousands of kilometres apart for both professional and private reasons and see each other only a few days a year. Marriages break up, singles keep to themselves, couples remain childless. To avoid social withdrawal or loneliness in these cases, friends or neighbours can take the place of family members to maintain the social network as in a close village community. According to Mähr, the concept of redensification and multigenerational housing works very well, especially at the local level: “Here, for historical reasons, we have very small plots of land, building land is scarce and expensive, and as architects we can have a positive influence on the appearance of the village.” Ultimately, however, for Mähr a central problem in building lies in the conscious use of the resources available to us: “We should generally put as little energy as possible into a new building as well as use it in maintenance and be as economical as possible with the existing building stock.”

From existence to permanence

The Generationenhaus mit Blick perfectly reflects this approach. Instead of creating a new home elsewhere, the owners recognised the advantages of their existing building in all its facets and invested in its future. The fact that everyone involved can now feel comfortable and at home is based, on the one hand, on the intensive examination of their own needs and wishes in advance and, on the other hand, on the architectural quality of the solution. A surrounding shell of natural silver fir provides a uniform image and allows old and new to merge. The space between this shell and the existing building creates a strong visual and functional interweaving of the interior and exterior areas. Spacious living and dining areas over two floors allow all parties to enjoy a high quality of stay. And the originally heterogeneous mixture of surfaces has been transformed into a finely tuned interplay of woods and finishes. “How we want to live in old age or as we age, we may not even know today,” says Mähr and adds: “Therefore, our building types must become more flexible away from traditional and standardized ideas. We plan each of our houses in different scenarios, whereby the use of space is allowed to change. For the Generations House, we have specifically made provisions to be able to accommodate three more rooms. The part to the north of the main staircase can be used for different units, and the upper floor can be connected to another bathroom and kitchen.” Permanence also means adaptability.

Text Linda Pezzei