Commissioned by a family within the mountainous region of East Tyrol, this Austrian oddity is a fully-furnished and functional home set on a hillside overlooking some of the best mountain views in the area. Currently for rent on a weekly basis, the house makes for a perfect ski-trip lodging for any family with the financial means, blending the comforts of a traditional house with the futurism of a contemporary design, all while bringing nature into the equation like little else. Two distinct modes of design can be seen from the outside of the house, with its front defined by angular wall divisions and its rear made up of one sweeping curve. The house is set on stilts to maximize spectacular views while minimizing the environmental impact of its construction, a design choice rarely seen outside of beach communities. Windows, both small and large, provide light to every part of the building without sacrificing personal privacy, a consideration that’s often missed in the design of compact houses. The actual surface of the abode borrows from historical styles around it, integrating the forward-looking living place with the traditions around it.
The design brilliance of the cottage isn’t purely limited to its exterior, however. Inside, combinations of the simple and the sophisticated give effortless grace to its design. A single wood theme flows throughout, instilling a comfortable and colloquial atmosphere to even the most oddly-shaped or futuristic piece of the house. Each room has its share of unique and innovative design elements, and even the staircase is a complex architectural project on its own. Within the walls of this condensed abode lies a vast array of intelligent design choices to make the most of its space.
The building is set above the landscape on metal structural stilts, leveling its floor with a minimal impact on its environment. The elevated nature of the home also leads to enhanced views out each window of the beautiful regional surroundings.
The minuscule house includes both organic and geometric architectural lines, defined from the back by flowing curves and from the front by sharp angles. Such a combination may seem contradictory, but it works well on this project.
Set among the centuries-old buildings and natural wonders of Tyrolean Austria, the dwelling’s architecture stands out without overpowering its idyllic surroundings. Much of that has to do with its modest size, as well as the choice to use wooden siding instead of more popular contemporary exterior coverings.
During winter the siding and glass of the house is even more striking, a futuristic vision made up of tried-and-true materials.
Every angle of the design is intended to provide natural light all year round, undercut o steep enough to stop the accumulation of snow during winter. The house doesn’t become a closed-off hole during the coldest months.
The interior of the house is fairly minimal in style, dominated by a single wood finish and accented by clever little details in each room. The entryway provides some storage for coats and shoes, and immediate access to the structure’s main living space.
The rear curve of the building helps to define the interesting kitchen area, with a huge aluminum backsplash and a strip of LED lights illuminating the stove, sink, and countertop. A wood-burning furnace provides a traditional contrast to the futuristic kitchen fixtures.
The kitchen table is not only a piece of furniture; it’s part of the box’s structure. Its surface transforms at one end into the bottom edge of a square picture window perfectly wide for its profile.
Light streams in from two major windows throughout the day, one providing picturesque mountain views and the other stretching above it in a skylight format.
The loft above the dining bench is the chief recreational area of the diminutive dwelling, giving the most breathtaking views out its huge windows. The platform, a half-story above the kitchen floor, has room enough for more than a few people to sit and socialize comfortably.
In the immediate surroundings to the structure sit a number of other houses, so this sitting area is too open to serve as a full-time bedroom (though it could be a guest bed on occasion).
The home’s staircase is an incredibly well-designed detail, one of the most subtly complex in the building. Its split nature gives easy access to the half-story window loft, allowing the upper portion’s railing to follow the angle of the abode’s public face.
The upper floor is reserved for a single type of room: the bedroom. Two beds and a small office desk sit here under the smooth curve of the roof, everything finished in the same wood.
A little alcove with its own downward-angled window houses a child’s bed, with one wall and a curtain providing privacy while keeping dependents close at hand.
Storage is built into sections along the wall, and a desk sits along one side of the bedroom. A few simple spotlights angled correctly provide plenty of light, dispersed over the curvature of the ceiling.
