Haus Y2 in Linz, Austria

Situación
La propiedad se encuentra en una empinada pendiente, al pie del Pöstlingberg en las inmediaciones del río Danubio. Como todos los edificios ubicados a lo largo de la calle principal de la urbanización, su ancho es de tan sólo 21 m. Algunas de las construcciones vecinas se extienden casi hasta el límite de la propiedad, por lo que la orientación hacia el este y el oeste tenía menor importancia. El edificio está dividido en dos esbeltas estructuras. Esta división aumenta el efecto del espacio intermedio entre las estructuras, genera una fuerte relación entre ambas y asegura el enlace deseado entre todas las plantas de la propiedad.

Diseño
El diseño incorpora la topografía del terreno. Cada piso se adapta a su respectiva situación en la empinada ladera y reinterpreta al orden convencional de los espacios públicos y privados estructurándoles en este caso de arriba hacia abajo.

Integración con el entorno
La parte de atrás del edificio proporciona protección y por lo tanto se eleva, mientras que el frente es amplio y abierto.

Estructura y forma
La ubicación de la habitación era la base del proyecto, con sus dos estructuras unidas por un pasadizo subterráneo. De esta manera, las dos estructuras no están contra la pendiente sino que ambas se posicionan a lo largo de la misma para permitir el flujo de energía a través del centro. Formalmente, ambas estructuras se perciben como casas individuales o dúplex con alturas y dimensiones muy similares.
Ambos cuerpos tienen techos inclinados que aumentan gradualmente desde el lado de la entrada y se reducen drásticamente hasta su punto más estrecho entre los dos edificios a lo largo de la pendiente. Las inclinaciones variables de los techos aparecen en todas las habitaciones de la casa con alturas de techo de hasta 5 m.

Disposición
El camino a la puerta de entrada fue particularmente importante para el proyecto ya que no conduce a la puerta en línea recta, sino que lleva a los visitantes a través de una rampa de concreto cubierta que conduce a través de la puerta de la cochera. A partir de este punto, un puente de madera conduce a la entrada del edificio residencial.

Edificio residencial (lado sudeste)
Detrás de la puerta principal, se encuentra un vestíbulo que conduce a la sala de espera de las salas de tratamiento, así como al guardarropa. La zona de la entrada se inunda de luz natural a través de un gran ventanal que ofrece vistas al jardín del frente, así como el puente de madera y a la vecina casa dormitorio.
La sala de tratamiento Shiatsu tiene 3,6 m de largo. Esta sala para tratamientos tiene 8 esteras de paja de arroz que se colocan en el suelo. El tatami se utiliza para el suelo en las tradicionales casas japonesas y no se puede caminar sobre él con zapatos. Por la noche, se coloca un futón sobre el tatami y el espacio se convierte en un dormitorio. Esta zona también se puede utilizar como habitación de huéspedes, ya que también funciona como una unidad independiente con el baño adyacente ubicado en la entrada. Una escalera de madera de roble conduce directamente desde la zona de entrada a la sala de estar que cuenta con todas las funciones de sala-comedor y cocina. Ésta es la zona más pública de la casa y es el centro de la vida comunitaria. Sus habitantes e invitados se reúnen aquí para relajarse, escuchar música, leer, cocinar y comunicarse.
Casi no hay ángulos rectos en estas habitaciones casi sacras. La escalera autoportante, el cuerpo suspendido, las ventanas en varios formatos y en diferentes niveles, así como las alturas de los techo de hasta 5 m mejoran aún más este efecto. El salón tiene una chimenea, una ventana en esquina con una vista panorámica y asientos elevados, una zona de lectura a la altura del parapeto de 45 cm que, al mismo tiempo, constituye el respaldo del conjunto de asientos. Una puerta corrediza ofrece vistas a la terraza de madera que conecta los dos edificios por el exterior.
El comedor se encuentra bajo la sala de fisioterapia, suspendido desde el techo sin soportes. La cocina con su isla se encuentra justo detrás de la zona de comedor. Los estantes de madera de roble en la parte posterior de la zona de comedor se adaptan a la forma de la escalera y proporcionan un espacio de almacenamiento abierto. A la casa dormitorio se llega a través de un paso subterráneo, que está iluminado naturalmente por la cúpula-claraboya ubicada justo encima, mediante la adopción de un giro a la izquierda en la parte superior de la escalera. De esta manera, también conduce a la sala técnica, al WC y al lavadero.

Casa dormitorio (lado noroeste)
Los pasillos corren a lo largo del lado este de la casa dormitorio y conducen desde el baño hasta un balcón empotrado. El cuarto de baño -un spa privado- tiene vistas a los cercanías alpinas y al bosque a través del balcón.
Las habitaciones están orientadas hacia el oeste. La habitación de los niños incluye una galería y el dormitorio principal se extiende por encima del pasillo. De esta manera, tanto las habitaciones están también expuestas a la luz de la mañana desde el este. A la sala de meditación, ubicada en el nivel más bajo de la casa dormitorio se puede acceder por una escalera especial que ahorra espacio y conduce al de jardín del suroeste en la planta baja.

Original Text in English

Situation
The property is located on a steep slope at the foot of pöstlingberg in the immediate vicinity of the danube. like all buildings along this residential estate’s main street, its width amounts only to 21 m. some of the neighbouring structures extend almost to the property’s boundary; therefore an orientation towards east and west was of lesser importance. The building is divided into 2 slim structures. this division increases the effect of the interspace between the structures; it generates a strong relation between the two and ensures the desired link between all floors on this steep property.

Design
The design incorporates the property’s topography. every floor is ideally adapted to its respective location on the steep slope which turns the conventional order of public and private areas on its head – this house is structured from top to bottom.

Integration into the property’s environment
The property’s layout is ideal for designs in accordance with the above mentioned principles. the back side of the building provides protection and is therefore raised while the front side is open and wide. the property’s location above the danube river is ideal for this kind of design.

Structure and shape
The room assignment was the basis for the project’s design with its two structures (residential building + ‘sleeping’ building) which are joined by a subterranean passageway. This way, the two structures are not set against the slope. they are both positioned along the fall line to let the energy of the slope flow through the centre. The structures appear to be one-storeyed on the sides that face the slope. The RESIDENTIAL BUILDINDG (southeastern side) almost seems withdrawn while the SLEEPING BUILDING (southwestern side) is open like a big gate. Formally, both structures are perceived as twin or duplex houses. they seem to be unusual and familiar at the same; their heights and dimensions are also very similar. The structures‘ exteriors follow the property’s boundaries; their inner sides, which are facing each other, generate unique dynamics in this context.

Both houses are covered with irregularly inclined saddle roofs across the entire length of the respective structure. these roofs rise gradually from the side of the entrance and drop steeply at their narrowest point between both buildings along the slope’s inclination. the varying inclinations of the roofs are felt in every room of the house – with ceiling heights of up to 5 m.

Layout
The way to the entrance door was particularly important for this project: it does not lead to the door in a straight line but takes visitors to the structure’s back via a roofed concrete ramp that leads through the carport’s wide open gate. From this point a wooden bridge branches off to the left and ‘bridges’ the gap to the entrance of the RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.

Residential Building (southeastern side)
A draft lobby is located behind the front door and leads to the waiting area of the treatment rooms as well as to the private cloakroom. natural light floods into the entrance area via a large window that provides a view of the front garden as well as the wooden bridge and the neighbouring SLEEPING HOUSE. The sides of the SHIATSU treatment room are 3.6 m long. This room is meant for treatments on 8 rice straw mats which are placed on the floor. tatami are used for floorings in traditional Japanese houses and may not be walked upon in shoes. at night, a futon is laid upon the tatami mat and turns this room into a sleeping area. this area can also be used as a guest room as it also works as an independent unit due to the adjacent bathroom on the entrance floor.

An oak wood staircase leads directly from the entrance area to the living area that comprises all functions from living and dining to cooking – in this order. This is the area where everybody come together. it is the most public room in the house and the very centre of communal life. inhabitants and guest meet here to relax, listen to music, read, cook and communicate. There are almost no right angles in this entire – almost sacral – room. the freestanding staircase, the suspended body, windows in various formats and on different levels as well as ceiling heights of up to 5 m right below the roof enhance this effect even further.

The living area consists of a fireplace, an all-glass corner window with a panoramic view and elevated seating/reading area at the parapet’s height of 45 cm which, at the same time, constitutes the back rest of the free-form seating ensemble. A sliding door offers a view of the wooden terrace that connects both buildings on the outside. The central dining area is located under the physiotherapy room which is suspended from the roof with no supports. the kitchen with its island unit lies right behind the dining area.

Oak wood shelves in the back of the dining area, which were adapted to the shape of the staircase, provide clear and open storage space. one reaches the SLEEPING HOUSE via the subterranean passageway, which is naturally illuminated by the skylight dome right above it, by taking a left turn at the top of the staircase. This way also leads to the slope-sided technical room, the WC and the utility room.

Sleeping House (northwestern side)
The hallways runs along the eastern side of the sleeping house and leads from the bathroom to a recessed balcony. The bathroom – upgraded to a private wellness area – includes an all-glass view across the balcony into the alpine foothills, a shower with mirrored glass walls and a view of the forest as well as an elevated rest area. The bedrooms are oriented towards the west – the children’s room includes a gallery, the master bedroom extends across the floor above the hallway. This way, both rooms are exposed to morning light from the east. The meditation room on the lowest level of the sleeping house can be accessed by e-stairs (space-saving staircase) and leads to the southwestern garden on the ground level.

Construction + material
The house is built right onto the slope and is based on foundation slabs made of reinforced concrete. walls made of reinforced concrete were only used for walls that touch the actual ground of the slope. all other walls that are visible from the outside as well as the roof are made of wood. Future-oriented, sustainable construction with ‚healthy‘ materials was of the utmost importance to the client. wooden components were insulated with rock wool and the installation level was insulated with renewable materials (hemp). The inner sides of exterior walls were cladded with insulating soft fibre boards and finished with clay plastering or sand-coloured clay coating. the heating system consists of an air source heat pump supported by a controlled living room ventilation system. the house was designed as a low-energy building.

Domestic larch wood was chosen for the outer sides of exterior walls. the open and ventilated façade with vertically positioned boards and squared timber in various widths and depths – a so-called ‘chaos formwork’ are key elements of the building’s distinctive look. these boards and squared timbers were cut with a gang saw, dried and then brushed on the outside. This procedure reduces soft parts within the wood and therefore ensures that the façade grays evenly. Cork and cast cementitious coatings alternate throughout the house’s floor areas.

The wood-aluminium windows consist of oiled larch wood on the inside and pearlescent-gray coating on the outside. They were either installed as flush windows or set deeply into the window reveal to create deep and useful recessed areas on the inside as well as exciting incisions in the exterior façade. The interior tilt-and-turn sashes were filled with panels to contrast the fixed glazing and bring more materiality from the inside to the outside. A tree, that had to be removed for the construction of this house, was dried and stripped of its bark and is now used as a column. this natural column supports the tip of the house and is true testament to this building’s wooden construction.