- Project: House Schmitten
- Architect: Steiner Architecture
- Location: Austria, Vienna
- Year: 2023
- Area: 120 m2
- Photography: Florian Holzherr
A Cheeky Take on Alpine Timber
House Schmitten by Steiner Architecture is a family chalet that reinterprets Alpine tradition with a daring splash of color. Set in Zell am See, Austria, the annex to an old hotel embraces audacity by coating its timber cladding in RAL 3016 red, turning the façade into a vibrant, almost playful departure from the muted palettes of the region. The effect is both bold and subtle, with varying saturations lending depth and variety across the wooden boards.
A Striking Annex to a Historic Hotel
The chalet is directly attached to an existing hotel, which the family also manages. While the hotel retains its historic character, the annex stands apart as a contemporary counterpoint, with a double-height volume and expansive glazing that frame dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Rather than mimic tradition, the design positions itself as a provocative reinterpretation of Alpine architecture.
Vertical Dimension and Glass Transparency
In contrast to the horizontal emphasis typical of Alpine chalets, House Schmitten emphasizes the vertical through its soaring interior volume. Three sides of the annex are nearly covered in large glass panes, creating transparency and openness to the mountain landscape. Wooden frames painted in RAL 3016 add rhythm, transforming the house into both a shelter and a statement.
Interior Atmosphere
Inside, the ground floor contains the family’s living and dining areas, where polished concrete walls introduce solidity and counterbalance the glass façade. Roller shades stretch across the double height, offering privacy when needed and altering the external appearance dramatically.
A mezzanine level curves above the living space, housing a small home office. This elevated platform is in dialogue with playful architectural gestures, such as the inverted Diocletian window at the rear and the circular staircase pillar, which bring subtle historic references into a modern language.
Program and Hotel Integration
While the annex houses the primary social areas, the family’s bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen remain within the adjacent hotel structure. This dual arrangement creates a layered living environment: the historic body provides practical functions, while the new annex becomes a bold, light-filled heart of the home.
A Playful Yet Refined Statement
By daring to use color and form unconventionally, House Schmitten injects character into its Alpine setting. The project challenges local conventions while maintaining refinement through materiality and craftsmanship. The result is a chalet that is at once rooted in tradition and radically modern.
