‘firestation in wartberg’ by pointner & pointner architekten image © kurt hoerbst

located in the small town of wartberg ob der aist, austrian practice pointner & pointer architekten has designed a new fire station on the entrance to the village center. simple and striking, the design incorporates the topography of the site, seemingly emerging from the natural slope behind the garage.

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg night view image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg access way image © kurt hoerbst

constructed out of sand-blasted concrete, the stoic structure is pragmatic in both its design and layout. a garage capable of holding six fire trucks makes up the main volume of the station while the administrative programs are housed in a multi-storey addition that overlooks the access and front yard. the training room acts like a look-out, cantilevering over the  practice area in the direction of the center of wartberg.

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg front yard image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg garage image © kurt hoerbst

accommodating an expansive green roof, the station is barely discernible when approached from behind save for the hose and drill tower which stands multi-storeys high. the combined effect of its vertical stature and the translucent cladding which makes the structure glow at night, the architecture of the tower serves a dual-purpose as the station’s signage.

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg hose and drill tower image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg green roof image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg images © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg view from the cantilevered room image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg profile image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg behind the station image © kurt hoerbst

pointner & pointner architekten: firestation in wartberg interior shots of the station images © kurt hoerbst