Rooftop stories

Villa Stadlergasse

Vienna

Project: Renovation and second-storey addition of a historic villa in the Stadlergasse

Location: Vienna

Status: completed

Client: Fa. IVW GmbH

Year: 2019

Size: 157 m2

A fundamental question of architectural theory: Does structural intervention in the historical sphere necessarily needs to be conducted in contemporary architectural language?

In the present case we consciously made a different decision.

Ideally, the construction intervention should be inconspicuous.

We were smitten with the delightful Hietzinger villa from the very start. The mansard roof, atypical for the area, the asymmetrical, half-timbered gable and the organic round window bestow the house with elegance. The façade structure, quite spartan for the construction period, shows self-confidence. This house was full of desire and passion implemented by the planning architect back then.

To be able to create the necessary additional space within the 2nd storey loft, we have, out of respect for this persuasive creative drive, literally raised the roof by adding a mezzanine floor level. Ideally, the construction intervention should be inconspicuous.

It was essential to duplicate the design elements and details of the existing building (half-hip roof, hem gutter detail, strutless timber framing, window division and materiality).

We really like the result, and I think it shows our attitude as well: generally, architecture should be unpretentious and respectful. Show-off architecture is boring!

Completion

Photographs: Miroslava Andric

We really like the result, and I think it shows our attitude as well: generally architecture should be unpretentious and respectful. Show-off architecture is boring!

before

after

Construction site

Existing