Buildings are meant to endure—yet they're also not. They can outlast generations, but only if they adapt to evolving needs. This flexibility, however, is demanded not only of the building fabric itself, but also of the client and the design team. At a former sculptor's studio, all stakeholders embraced the willingness to take unconventional paths. This enabled Moser and Hager Architekten to create new residential space that flows across multiple gallery levels and extends into the roof story of the neighboring building.

The studio space had been added to a two-story structure dating from 1670 in the 1950s. A narrow spiral staircase provided access to the 6.5-meter-high room, which was illuminated only by a 3.5-meter-wide skylight. The renovation introduced a floor-to-ceiling window into the west facade, extending from the roof down to the windowsill. This brings the living space into visual connection with the garden, even on cooler, wetter days. During the warmer months, the lightweight steel pergola structure provides a shaded outdoor retreat. The construction echoes the material vocabulary of the interior, where steel beams define the character of the modest 45-square-meter studio. These beams support mezzanines that expand the living area vertically on both sides. There are no enclosed rooms here. Dining, cooking, and living—the simple rhythms of family life—unfold within a single expansive space, though distributed across multiple levels. A slender staircase, nestled against the rear wall and adjoining building, connects these zones. Rather than stopping at the mezzanine level, it ascends almost to the roof ridge and continues into the original structure. The attic of this older building houses the bedrooms, children's rooms, and bathrooms. This layering makes clear how intricate the transformation of a building through renovation can be, and the considerable potential it holds for creating individually tailored living spaces.

www.moserundhager.at

Photography:

Gregor Graf
www.gregorgraf.net

(Published in CUBE Vienna 02|23)