Austria For the houses in Vorarlberg, a mountainous region in the west-
solid wood with pitched roofs, wooden shingles and clay roof
ern tip of Austria, a thin line lies between the vernacular and the
tiles. The newer houses of the area have the same sturdy struc-
modern (40). There exists not a competition of styles or building
tural qualities, but there are occasional flat roofs, metal cladding
types, but generations of gradual modifications of the traditional
and other new materials, subtle sculpting of form, larger win-
building type, which accommodate modern domestic needs with
dows and an open plan interior. The changes appear to be slight,
newer building methods. When one looks at the vernacular build-
but modernism is obvious.
ings of the area, one sees farm houses of compact form, built of
38
SU-SI House, Reuthe, Austria, Oskar Leo Kaufmann and Johannes Kaufmann, 1998 A prefabricated modular home built as a prototype for more systems to follow. The architect, the client and the builder are all in the same family.
39
Interior of SU-SI House, Reuthe The modular home is a complete entity – it is fitted out with space-saving amenities with simple, clear details.
SYSTE M S I N HOUS I NG
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