jochen specht enlarges haus hohlen on austrian hillside

jochen specht enlarges haus hohlen on austrian hillside
photo by adolf bereuter
all images courtesy of architekt jochen specht

‘haus hohlen’ results from the conversion of a existing dwelling originally built in 1961. designed by architect jochen specht, the expanded and renewed house is characterized by its clear gable-roof form and visually porous envelope, composed of large pains of glass which open the interiors to views of the austrian valley below. located in the town of dornbirn, the singular gable-roof volume sits upon a concrete base that recedes into the sloping terrain.

the house sinks into the sloping terrain
photo by adolf bereuter

the light and open nature of the wood-framed and glass-clad envelope contrasts the house’s existing heavy structure, which has been whitewashed to minimize its masonry quality. the new façade encloses the original thick shell, whose former windows and openings have been integrated into the new spaces for functional purposes.

the light and open outer envelope contrasts the shell of the existing house
photos by adolf bereuter

large panes of glass allow for wide views to the surrounding landscape
photo by adolf bereuter

existing openings in the original building have been integrated into the interior layout
photos by adolf bereuter

the thick existing shell, painted white, is clearly expressed within the new house
photo by adolf bereuter

photos by adolf bereuter

the façades are characterized by an irregular fenestration arrangement
photo by adolf bereuter

photo by adolf bereuter

the visually porous building volume sits atop a concrete base
photo by adolf bereuter

the thick walls of the existing structure are clearly legible in the house’s floor plan

project info:

location: dornbirn, austria
completion date: 2014
architecture: architekt jochen specht
project management: querformat
engineering: GBD, BDT IB, 3P geotechnik
construction: reinhard burtscher
surveying: AVD
photography: adolf bereuter