Attelier Gitterle

Life. Independent and free like a tree, yet with the sense of brotherhood that you would find in a forest.

In the artistic and creative fields in particular, the distinction between a person's private life and professional life can often become blurred. Their home may become their place of work, making it all the more important that this place allows them to work with intensity and full concentration, free from potential distractions. And yet it should provide stimulation, allow inspiration to develop, leave room for their thoughts to wander. For example, when looking out of the window – where the forest and the meadows evoke a sense of wonder and renewal. The basic concept behind the design, which Atelier Gitterle realised in close cooperation with the owner, an actress, was to create such visual axes to the idyllic surroundings, and to allow the living space to merge with nature. They created an impressive single-storey studio building on a slightly sloping plot of land, right on the edge of the forest, high up above the valley floor in the Tyrolean Oberland and within walking distance of a lake.

Boards that mean the world

With its wooden shell, the living space/workshop blends wonderfully into the landscape. It was particularly important to the client that the materials to be used were chosen according to ecological criteria. A vertical facade made of rough-sawn spruce was therefore fitted across the entire building, and the natural greying of the wood was pre-empted in the use of ADLER's metallic wood glaze Lignovit Platin. The black shadow grooving of the prefabricated wooden elements, coated in a special shade by Rema Wood, creates particular highlights and a three-dimensional effect. The remaining components – roof soffits and slats made of brushed spruce – were painted with Lignovit Platinum in the same shade of grey by carpentry firm AT-Thurner Bau.

Behind the curtain

A cast foundation slab makes the projecting structure appear to float above the ground. At the same time, it connects the new structure with the existing family home, which retains an unobstructed view of the valley thanks to the ground-level design of the new section. Following detailed planning of the interior design byarchitectural practice Atelier Gitterle, the concept was realised in close collaboration with the client. Everything had been thought through, down to the last detail – from the furnishings and textiles right through to the lighting. The entire interior fit-out was done by furnishing company Tischlerei Gitterle GmbH, working as always with a wide range of stains, paints and varnishes by ADLER. The results are absolutely harmonious in all ways, but will be staying hidden from the spotlight – the owner would prefer not to share her private life with the public in the form of photographs. In contrast to the results of her creative retreat, which we will hopefully be able to witness at some point on the region's theatre stages.