Atrium House Tschengla: A Contemporary Alpine Retreat in Austria

Brandnertal, Vorarlberg, Austria

Set at 1,168 metres above sea level on a quiet hilltop in Austria’s Brandnertal, Atrium House Tschengla is conceived as a protected retreat with a strong connection to the surrounding Alpine landscape.

The elongated volume and pitched roof take their cues from the traditional houses of the region. Rather than simply reproducing the familiar typology, the architecture reinterprets it. The gabled main volume merges with a lower flat-roofed structure and an enclosed courtyard, creating a contemporary composition positioned at the highest point of the site.

From the outside, the house appears restrained and relatively closed. Inside, the character changes completely. Generous living spaces open towards the atrium, garden and an impressive panorama of the surrounding mountains.

Access is organised as a split level, connecting the lower entrance with the main living and sleeping floor. Along the south-facing side, the living areas extend towards the atrium and a sheltered outdoor terrace. The bedrooms and bathrooms are positioned to the north, creating a more private part of the house.

To the east, the kitchen opens across the full width of the building towards the garden and a covered veranda. A substantial natural-stone fireplace forms a central architectural element, separating and defining the dining and living areas without interrupting the openness of the plan.

The continuous pitched roof remains visible throughout the interior and gives the different spaces a strong sense of unity.

The house is predominantly constructed in timber, with structural columns and beams deliberately left visible within the interior. Timber continues across the façades, windows and interior finishes, complemented by natural stone.

Atrium House Tschengla combines the protective character of an Alpine refuge with generous openness towards the landscape. Traditional regional forms are transformed into a calm, contemporary home shaped by timber, stone, natural light and views of the mountains.

Project: Atrium House Tschengla
Location: Brandnertal, Vorarlberg, Austria
Type: Residential / New Build
Altitude: 1,168 m
Fotografie: Bruno Klomfar
Architect: Dieter Klammer, Architecturterminal Austria
More info: https://www.architekturterminal.at/projekte/atriumhaus-tschengla