sigurd larsen wraps cantilevering mountain house in austria in mirrored glass + timber

berlin-based danish architect sigurd larsen has completed a cantilevering saddle-roofed residence, situated amidst the green sloping hills of oberschlierbach, austria. wrapped in a mirrored glass façade on its lower level, the mountain house offers direct, full access to the surrounding meadows from the living areas, as well as framed views of the snowy alps from the windows of its timber-clad upper floor. all images by christian flatscher

the arrival point of the mountain house is on the upper level, where sigurd larsen has built a covered corridor that ushers residents into the interior, at the point where the private and common areas meet. the rest of the prefabricated-CLT-clad upper floor contains mostly private areas, such as sleeping spaces with high ceilings under the saddle roof, which offer great views to the mountains on the south, and to the pine forest further uphill toward the north.

the lower part of the house, which is wrapped in mirrored glass to reflect the austrian landscape, comprises a few free-standing walls, which function as large furniture to divide and organize the cooking and living areas, as well as holding the cantilevering saddle- roofed structure above it. an essential part of an austrian home, the wooden bench in the kitchen (eckbank) forms the heart of the house together with the staircase, and highlights the special feature of the unique landscape as it is located at the key point where the building meets the green sloping hills. a terrace is located at the end of the narrow residence, on top of an exisiting small foundation, while the rest of the glass façade offers direct access between the common areas and the green meadows.

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project info:

name: the mountain house

architect: sigurd larsen design & architecture

location: oberschlierbach, oberösterreich, austria

size: 180 m2