Beautiful Austerity

The Eva Presenhuber House in the small town of Vna, Switzerland was inspired by the rugged mountains that surround it. Designed by Andreas Fuhrimann and Gabrielle Hachler, the faceted concrete form of the house echos the rocky outcroppings of its landscape.

Built almost completely of concrete, the exterior forms seem carved from a solid block.  The small angles that deform the facade create a subtle complexity that breaks down the monolithic shape of the house.

The rawness of the concrete on the outside is continued inside, where the spaces feel as if they were carved out of the rock.  The raw concrete is complemented by unfinished plywood surfaces which domesticates the interior while maintaining the austerity of the design.  The interior is unexpectedly bright, illuminated by large windows and light colored surfaces which bounce the sun light.  The interior space has few walls and many of those are angled so that one space seems to flow into the next.  The result is a beautiful austerity that evokes a sense of place and an inviting minimalism.