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What could match the massive presence of Marte‘s concrete home, this raw, stony material, this self-contained unit? Oxidizing steel: just as raw, just as authentic in its expression and its properties. The interior impression remains the same – wood surfaces, warm colours, fine pores. The new exterior structure, on the other hand, is masculine, striving skywards, rising up from the surrounding landscape like the neighbouring pear tree. That behind the massive exterior lies a building of lightweight materials may be inspired by the tale of the Trojan horse. A new space opens up between the two buildings, complemented by an in-ground pool – uncompromising, hard, less sensible, but therefore all the more magical, idiosyncratic, and sensuous. Oxidizing steel on the walls and bottom, encased like in a suit of armour. The tower also appears this way with its steel ventilation flaps to the north and south and fixed glazing to the east. Rapunzel…. Through the library, down a few steps into the separate kitchen, and then through the dining room, facing the pool, the little princesses can climb the newel stairs to their bedrooms. There, they are presented with a view, on the one hand, of their parents’ protective house and, on the other, the nearby scenic forest. The spatial perspective mirrors this interplay of freedom and guidance, becoming a symbol of their possibilities for development within the family. The whole structure seems so sealed off, but in terms of use, it not only offers an astonishing amount of free space, but also conveys respect and draws boundaries. This makes it possible to live together in a relatively small space and at the same time provides each person with opportunities for participation and private space. What an unparalleled atmosphere for the girls. If it is true that the first few years of life shape our future spatial desires, then these girls will have had a very valuable personal experience that their future Prince Charmings will probably not have had: a life in manifest appreciation.
Marte.Marte Architekten
Bernhard Marte, born 1966 in Dornbirn/Vorarlberg.
Stefan Marte, born 1967 in Dornbirn/Vorarlberg.
The brothers Bernhard and Stefan Marte made their Master of architecture at the technical University of Innsbruck amongst others with Professor Othmar Barth and Rainer Köberl. The collaboration of Stefan in the architectural office Gohm+Hiessberger was followed by the foundation of their own office in 1993 in Weiler. Their built work is well known far beyond the Austrian borders although they are designed and established in a small town in Austria. Several won competitions and awards prove the international status of this young office.
Beside two Austrian state-awards Marte.Marte projects have won several national and international awards. The monograph “Marte.Marte Architects”, which was published by SpringerWienNewYork in 2008, was awarded with the state award “most beautiful Austrian book” and with the silver medal for the “most beautiful book of the world” in Leipzig. One of the most renowned European galleries of architecture Aedes in Berlin has shown a monographic exhibition about Marte.Marte with the title “concrete works” in December 2009.
Several won competitions like the ‘Exhibition Center of the Federal Foundation Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation’ in Berlin or the ‘Asfinag Motorway Maintenance Area’ in Salzburg are right now in the planning stage. 2012 the ‘Mountain Cabin’ in the Laternser-Valley has been accomplished and has already won several international awards like the red dot and the Architizer A+Award.
