PIONIRA
PIONIRA

KRIECHERE 70
Bezau, Austria
2022

* Title: Revitalisierung Kriechere 70
* Address:  Kriechere 70, Bezau, Austria
* Year of construction: 2022
* Thematic focus: Revitalization and conversion, local production chains and natural building materials

 * Project text: Whole generations of villagers and valley residents have pressed their nose against the large shop windows facing Bezau’s village street to admire the latest photographs. The barn, where cows used to dwell in earlier times, was later home to the business of the Hiller family of photographers. Johann Kaspar Hiller laid the foundation as the Bregenzerwald’s first photographer. His daughter Hedwig later continued the legacy – as Vorarlberg’s first female professional photographer – and commissioned young Bezau architect Leopold Kaufmann to set up her photo studio.

The establishment of the photo studio and shop within the former barn of the Bregenzerwälderhaus was to become the long-echoing first work of the architect, who had a major influence on Vorarlberg’s building culture and continued to accompany its development until his passing in 2019. In the mid-1990s, the studio was closed. After 20 years of vacancy, Hedwig decided to rent out her studio to the architects Innauer Matt in 2012, imposing one condition: nothing was to be changed – given Leopold Kauffmann’s architectural brilliance, this wasn’t a difficult task.

Severely affected by long vacancy, wind and weather, the building still had to be revitalized and renovated in 2021. For this purpose, a building collective was founded, dedicated to jointly set their hands to the task. The preservation of the photo studio was the top priority. The typical residential wing could no longer be retained due to its poor condition. Thus, a new house was built around the historic jewel of the photo studio, adopting the formal language of the existing building without any ingratiation. The original division of the Bregenzerwälderhaus – Vorderhaus, Tenne, Hinterhaus – still characterizes the structure of the building, both inside and out. The archetypes are close at hand, the interpretation remains contemporary. Three apartments and the architecture office, which extends over three floors, now share the same roof. A dense structure in its best sense, combining living and working. And although everything now appears new, the original spirit of the exceptional still fills up the walls. Through the large shop windows, it continues to radiate out into the village.

Report on the project development from the Berchtel-Innauer-Matt building collective

After Hedwig Berchtel’s passing and after Vorarlberg’s state archive had been entrusted with her extensive photographic inheritance, the question arose as to what should happen to the old house in Bezau. Years of vacancy had already strained the substance to its core – renovation, reconstruction, new construction – all unavoidable.

As it was the house in which he spent his childhood, it was clear to Rudolf from the beginning that it must be preserved. For Markus and Sven, the former photo studio by Leopold Kaufmann had become a second home in the past decade – as a place of work and life, a source of inspiration and starting point of creativity, rooted in the back of the Bregenzerwald.

After a long exile in Dornbirn, Rudolf desired an apartment in his old, soon to be new home. With the studio of Innauer Matt already bursting at its seams, an extension to the upper floor seemed reasonable. In addition, housing shortage in the touristic village of Bezau made it impossible to provide apartments for the studio’s international staff.

With the goals all set, the task was still too ambitious for one person alone. Thanks to Rudolf’s openness, a building collective was formed without further ado. We – Rudolf, Anja, Markus, Barbara, Sven – aimed to revive the place with joint efforts. It is a house that continues the long history of the Hiller family of photographers – a place where yesterday connects with today.

PIONIRA
PIONIRA
PIONIRA
PIONIRA

01 Why is this project particularly relevant for Pionira?

All craftsmen come from a radius of max. 10km.

02 What have you learned from the project? What challenges did you encounter, and how did you solve them?

The construction happened right during the coronavirus pandemic. Thereby we needed to be flexible when it came to the availability of materials, but also the capacities of contractors. Improvisation and serenity were called for during this time.

03 What advice could you provide, based on the project? What guidance would you like to pass on to others?

It is better to plan slowly and carefully than quickly and hastily. For a number of reasons, the planning period for the building lasted about 5 years. 

04 How would you like to build in the future?

Buildings need to be more flexible and adaptable again. We ensure that materials are used appropriately and reasonably, also with regard to regional availability.

Name: KRIECHERE 70
Location: Bezau, Austria
Text and images by: Innauer Matt
Type: Places
 
Posted: January 2024
Categories: crafts, germany, reuse, sustainable design

Related Stories

KRIECHERE 70
Bezau, Austria
2022

* Title: Revitalisierung Kriechere 70
* Address:  Kriechere 70, Bezau, Austria
* Year of construction: 2022
* Thematic focus: Revitalization and conversion, local production chains and natural building materials

 * Project text: Whole generations of villagers and valley residents have pressed their nose against the large shop windows facing Bezau’s village street to admire the latest photographs. The barn, where cows used to dwell in earlier times, was later home to the business of the Hiller family of photographers. Johann Kaspar Hiller laid the foundation as the Bregenzerwald’s first photographer. His daughter Hedwig later continued the legacy – as Vorarlberg’s first female professional photographer – and commissioned young Bezau architect Leopold Kaufmann to set up her photo studio.

The establishment of the photo studio and shop within the former barn of the Bregenzerwälderhaus was to become the long-echoing first work of the architect, who had a major influence on Vorarlberg’s building culture and continued to accompany its development until his passing in 2019. In the mid-1990s, the studio was closed. After 20 years of vacancy, Hedwig decided to rent out her studio to the architects Innauer Matt in 2012, imposing one condition: nothing was to be changed – given Leopold Kauffmann’s architectural brilliance, this wasn’t a difficult task.

Severely affected by long vacancy, wind and weather, the building still had to be revitalized and renovated in 2021. For this purpose, a building collective was founded, dedicated to jointly set their hands to the task. The preservation of the photo studio was the top priority. The typical residential wing could no longer be retained due to its poor condition. Thus, a new house was built around the historic jewel of the photo studio, adopting the formal language of the existing building without any ingratiation. The original division of the Bregenzerwälderhaus – Vorderhaus, Tenne, Hinterhaus – still characterizes the structure of the building, both inside and out. The archetypes are close at hand, the interpretation remains contemporary. Three apartments and the architecture office, which extends over three floors, now share the same roof. A dense structure in its best sense, combining living and working. And although everything now appears new, the original spirit of the exceptional still fills up the walls. Through the large shop windows, it continues to radiate out into the village.

Report on the project development from the Berchtel-Innauer-Matt building collective

After Hedwig Berchtel’s passing and after Vorarlberg’s state archive had been entrusted with her extensive photographic inheritance, the question arose as to what should happen to the old house in Bezau. Years of vacancy had already strained the substance to its core – renovation, reconstruction, new construction – all unavoidable.

As it was the house in which he spent his childhood, it was clear to Rudolf from the beginning that it must be preserved. For Markus and Sven, the former photo studio by Leopold Kaufmann had become a second home in the past decade – as a place of work and life, a source of inspiration and starting point of creativity, rooted in the back of the Bregenzerwald.

After a long exile in Dornbirn, Rudolf desired an apartment in his old, soon to be new home. With the studio of Innauer Matt already bursting at its seams, an extension to the upper floor seemed reasonable. In addition, housing shortage in the touristic village of Bezau made it impossible to provide apartments for the studio’s international staff.

With the goals all set, the task was still too ambitious for one person alone. Thanks to Rudolf’s openness, a building collective was formed without further ado. We – Rudolf, Anja, Markus, Barbara, Sven – aimed to revive the place with joint efforts. It is a house that continues the long history of the Hiller family of photographers – a place where yesterday connects with today.

PIONIRA
PIONIRA
PIONIRA
PIONIRA

01 Why is this project particularly relevant for Pionira?

All craftsmen come from a radius of max. 10km.

02 What have you learned from the project? What challenges did you encounter, and how did you solve them?

The construction happened right during the coronavirus pandemic. Thereby we needed to be flexible when it came to the availability of materials, but also the capacities of contractors. Improvisation and serenity were called for during this time.

03 What advice could you provide, based on the project? What guidance would you like to pass on to others?

It is better to plan slowly and carefully than quickly and hastily. For a number of reasons, the planning period for the building lasted about 5 years. 

04 How would you like to build in the future?

Buildings need to be more flexible and adaptable again. We ensure that materials are used appropriately and reasonably, also with regard to regional availability.

Name: KRIECHERE 70
Location: Bezau, Austria
Text and images by: Innauer Matt
Type: Places
 
Posted: January 2024
Categories: crafts, germany, reuse, sustainable design

Related Stories