St. Joseph

Lower Austria, Austria
Completed
2005 – 2007

St. Joseph is a concrete molding independent of the building plot that is to be made habitable. The concrete molding lies at the edge of the outskirts of a plain along the Danube wetlands. Its basic measurements are 615 x 620 x 2230 centimeters. The concrete molding is set on four columns – one of them one-pronged, two of them two-pronged and one three-pronged. Its distance from the ground varies from 120 to 210 centimeters.

A second, softer white form detached from the outer shell is set within the concrete molding. The white form accesses and programs the interior space of the concrete molding, which is 2165 centimeters long and about 515 centimeters high – it makes it habitable, at least in part, if you wish. The two nested forms differ in terms of hardness and material.

Partners

Wolfram Mehlem

Projektpartner | Project Partners

Collaborators

Jesper Bork

Mitarbeiter | Collaborator

Camilla Munksgaard

Mitarbeiter | Collaborator

Consultants

Wolfram Mehlem

Projektarchitekt | Projektarchitect

Bollinger + Grohmann GmbH

Reinhard Schneider

Tragwerksplanung | Structural Engineering

Thomas Zelger, DI, Österreichisches Institut für Baubiologie

Bauphysik | Building Physics

SGLW Architekten

Werner Silbermayer

Kostenberechung | Cost calculation

Clash of Idioms
Mark #13 April/May 2008
Page 29

Wolfgang Tschapeller
House in St. Andrä-Wördern, Austria

Text: Arthur Wortmann

The most recent project by Austrian architect Wolfgang Tschapeller, a single-family home at the edge of town, appears both strange and familiar. From the outside, we can discern several principles of classical modernism. The columns keep the ground level open for the inhabitants’ outdoor activities; the house has a roof terrace, horizontal strip windows and curtain walls. An open plan seems to be the general intent. Le Corbusier would have approved.
But something is off. Strange, irregular sections have been carved out of the concrete façade; the roof terrace is slanted; the supports are arranged in playful groups. The interior is even more confusing. The flowing space is painted in solid white, just as it should be, but the walls twist in all sorts of directions. The spirit of architects like Coop Himmelb(l)au and UNStudio permeates this place – it exudes an air of post-blobism and post-deconstructivism. The interior is a sculpture. The staircases are diagonal volumes on which steps have been set. The space plays with geometry, volumes and recesses.
Wolfgang Tschapeller blends two architectural idioms that, in principle, have little in common and do not reinforce one another. The house does not reveal the reasons for this approach, but that is no detriment to its effect. It gives the structure a certain pertness and makes it a tongue-in-cheek reference to the history of architecture.

Project Info

Photographs ^73/7

Concrete shell, view from the northeast 1

Betonschale, Ansicht von Nordosten 1

Concrete shell, view from the northeast 2

Betonschale, Ansicht von Nordosten 2

Concrete shell, view from the northeast 3, 1st use, car window in concrete shell with matching car underneath.

Betonschale, Ansicht von Nordosten 3, 1. Nutzung, Autofenster in Betonschale mit darunterstehenden dazupassenden Auto.

Concrete shell, view from the north 1

Betonschale, Ansicht von Norden 1

Concrete shell, view from the north 2

Betonschale, Ansicht von Norden 2

Concrete shell, view from the north 3

Betonschale, Ansicht von Norden 3

Concrete shell, view from the northwest 1. The St. Joseph project is surrounded by fields under cultivation. After the harvest, these areas lie fallow, without vegetation, and the horizon is unobstructed. The concrete shell is set at a distance from the ground.

Betonschale, Ansicht von Nordwest 1. Rund um das St. Joseph Projekt liegen landwirtschaftliche Nutzflächen. Nach der Erntezeit liegen diese Flächen brach, ohne Vegetation, der Horizont ist frei. Die Betonhülle ist vom Boden distanziert.

Concrete shell, view from the southwest 1

Betonschale, Ansicht von Südwest 1

Concrete shell, view from the southwest 2. During the months of late spring and early summer, the visible horizon is higher. The crops are rotated: from cornfields as high as 2 meters to sunflowers and rapeseed. The concrete shell is set above the vegetation.

Betonschale, Ansicht von Südwest 2. Während der späten Frühjahrs- und frühen Sommermonate hebt sich der Horizont. Die Kulturen wechseln. Einmal Maisfelder bis zu 2m Höhe, einmal Sonnenblumen, einmal Raps. Die Betonhülle sitzt auf der Vegetation auf.

Concrete shell, underside view 1

Betonschale, Untersicht 1

Concrete shell, underside view 2

Betonschale, Untersicht 2

Interior northeast corner of the concrete shell: Though it is a building, the cast concrete shell functions as a three-dimensional building site, ready for the installation of specialized functional units.

Innere Nordostecke der Betonschale. Die gegossene Betonschale - obwohl Bauwerk - verhält sich wie ein dreidimensionales Bauareal, fertig für die Montage von spezialisierten Funktionseinheiten.

Camilla’s space: Despite the concrete shell’s roughness, we speak of a chassis in which functional blocs and motor functions are successively installed. This interpretation comes about in retrospect, when we review the construction process. It is an interim state that does not actually exist in the logic of the building.

Camillas Raum: Trotz der Grobheit der Betonschale sprechen wir von einem Fahrgestell, einem Chassis, in das nach und nach Funktionsblöcke und Motoriken montiert werden. Eine solche Leseart ergibt sich retrospektiv, wenn wir den Bauprozess lesen. In der Logik des Objekts existiert dieser Zwischenzustand eigentlich nicht.

Nico's space with layers of vegetation, open flattened ground, uncontrolled growth, grasses, wheat, corn, rapeseed...

Nicos Platz mit Vegetationsschichten, offen gewalzter Erdoberfläche, unkontrolliertem Wildwuchs, Gräsern, Weizen, Mais, Raps...

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4 Aug. 2007, 16.12, view from the northeast

4.8.2007, 16h12, Blick aus Nordost

St. Joseph Fotos 204_wf_070816_05_neg50_bl1

16 Aug. 2007, 16.48, view from the northeast

16.8.2007, 16h48, Blick aus Nordost

12 Oct. 2007, 16.30, view from the northeast

12.10.2007, 16h30, Blick aus Nordost

16 Sept. 2007, 15.43, view from the northeast

16.9.2007, 15h43, Blick aus Nordost

16 Sept. 2007, 15.52, view from the northeast

16.9.2007, 15h52, Blick aus Nordost

16 Sept. 2007, 16.12, view from the northeast

16.9.2007, 16h12, Blick aus Nordost

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14 Sept. 07, 12.07, view from the southwest

14.9.07, 12h07, Blick aus Südwest

1 Aug. 07, 8.23, view from the southwest

1.8.07, 8h23, Blick aus Südwest

14 Sept. 07, 12.28, view from the southwest

14.9.07, 12h28, Blick aus Südwest

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14 Sept. 07, 14.07, view from the northwest

14.9.07, 14h07, Blick aus Nordwest

14 Sept. 07, 14.57, view from the northwest

14.9.07, 14h57, Blick aus Nordwest

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14 Sept. 07, 16.12, view from the north

14.9.07, 16h12, Blick aus Nord

14 Sept. 07, 16.27, view from the north

14.9.07, 16h27, Blick aus Nord

14 Sept. 07, 15.02, view from the north

14.9.07, 15h02, Blick aus Nord

14 Sept. 07, view from the north

14.9.07, Blick aus Nord

2nd half of October 2007, view from the north

2. Oktoberhälfte 2007, Blick aus Nord

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2nd half of October 2007, view from the southeast

2. Oktoberhälfte 2007, Blick aus Südost

2nd half of October 2007, view from the southeast

2. Oktoberhälfte 2007, Blick aus Südost

2nd half of October 2007, view from the southeast

2. Oktoberhälfte 2007, Blick aus Südost

October 2007, early afternoon, view from the southeast

Oktober 2007 früher Nachmittag, Blick aus Südost

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August 2007, view of the south and west sides

August 2007, Blick auf Süd- und Westseite

October 2007, afternoon, view of the west side

Oktober 2007, Nachmittag, Blick auf Westseite

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Views ^73/7

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4 Aug. 2007, 10.03, view from the west

4.8.2007, 10h03, Blick aus West

4 Aug. 07, 10.17, view from the west

4.8.07, 10h17, Blick aus West

4 Aug. 07, 10.24, view from the west

4.8.07, 10h24, Blick aus West

4 Aug. 07, 13.55, view from the west

4.8.07, 13h55, Blick aus West

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4 Aug. 07, 11.27, Nico's room, view from the east with car window

4.8.07, 11h27, Nicos Zimmer, Blick aus Ost mit Autofenster

5 Aug. 07, around 8 o'clock

5.8.07, ca. 8h

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5 Aug. 07, 14.07, bathtub installed in north side bulge

5.8.07, 14h07, Badewanne in Verdickung der Nordseite montiert.

5 Aug. 07, 14.33, bathtub installed in north side bulge

5.8.07, 14h33, Badewanne in Verdickung der Nordseite montiert

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Models ^73/7

Model 2

Modell 2

Model 1

Modell 1

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Model 1, various impressions and indentations in a prismatic shape.

Modell 1, verschiedene Eindrücke und Einbuchtungen in prismatische Form.

Model 1, interior view

Modell 1, Innenansicht

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4 slabs are assigned various volumes. Each volume stands for a required functional unit.

4 Platten werden mit verschiedenen Volumen belegt. Jedes Volumen steht für eine erforderliche Funktionseinheit.

The 4 programmed slabs are folded towards one another.

Die 4 programmierten Platten werden zueinander gefaltet.

The programmed slabs, folded into a prism, define a remaining space that accommodates all remaining – non-specialized or non-segregated functions.

Die zu einem Prisma gefalteten programmierten Platten definieren einen Restraum, der alle verbleibenden - nicht spezialisierten oder nicht segregierten - Funktionen aufnimmt.

Wall thicknesses are greatly expanded in part; functions are recessed in the walls.

Wandstärken werden partiell extrem aufgeweitet. Funktionen werden in Wänden versenkt.

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Impressions of functions and spaces in a prismatic volume: The small impression will be assigned functions of sanitary installations in the course of development, while the larger impression is developed into a space for privacy and withdrawal.

Funktions- und Raumeindrücke in prismatisches Volumen. Der kleine Eindruck wird im Laufe der Bearbeitung mit Sanitärfunktionen belegt, der größere Eindruck wird als privater Rückzugsraum entwickelt.

Impressions of functions and spaces in a prismatic shape

Funktions- und Raumeindrücke in prismatische Form

Impressions of functions and spaces in a prismatic shape

Funktions- und Raumeindrücke in prismatische Form

Functions imprinted on the interior space, interior view

Funktionausdrücke auf Innenraum, innere Ansicht

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