marte marte architects' austrian veterinary practice houses both humans and horses

marte marte architects sites its ‘griss equine veterinary practice’ where the austrian village of rankweil meets the wide rhine valley. made of rough reinforced concrete and untreated wood, the project is home to animals as well as humans. an apartment for the veterinarian is combined under one roof with the equine practice. the practice includes such programs as an in-house pharmacy, treatment rooms, lab, and stables. the private and public spaces of the project ultimately coexist seamlessly.

images by marc lins

with the aim of organizing the project’s many programs on one level with limited square footage, marte marte architects designed the veterinary practice under the model of a pavilion. interior partitions of solid concrete are organized toward each other and enclosed by a partly recessed facade of prefabricated spruce. the exterior surface is rhythmically interrupted by floor-to-ceiling apertures. the working area is separated from the apartment by an enclosed ‘barn-like’ space. the clients and their horses enter the practice from the north by way of a sliding door which is integrated into the façade and reveals the center of the equine practice: the examining room. the other rooms of the veterinary practice are arranged around this central point.

the warmth of the silver fir wood detailing contrasts the primarily concrete structure. the interiors of the project feature lofty, high ceilings which both ensures the safety of the horses while lending an almost ‘sacred charm’ to the project. the low ceilings of the apartment, offer an intimate restfulness. the living space faces southwest, away from the access road with sweeping views across the surrounding landscape.