Between City Life and Mountain Stillness

Unlike many holiday homes that remain vacant for most of the year, House in Tschengla serves as a true second home for its owners. Just a 30-minute drive from their primary residence in Feldkirch, this mountain retreat allows them to experience both the vibrancy of urban life and the tranquility of the highlands. Tschengla, a plateau above Bürserberg, is a remarkable setting with its pristine nature, alpine flora, and sweeping mountain vistas. In response to this unique landscape, the house was designed as a solitaire, its form echoing traditional Alpine farmhouses—a structured wooden volume atop a sturdy plinth, with its gable facing the valley. To preserve the natural surroundings, minimal intervention was made to the alpine pastures around the building.

A layered spatial experience

Inside, the home is defined by contrasting spatial qualities. The ground floor features an open, communal layout, with a corridor housing the kitchen as the heart of the house. The dining area, slightly elevated, is an intimate space with a low ceiling, corner seating, and a panoramic window framing the majestic views. A continuous wooden bench extends from the dining area to the fireplace, doubling as a bookshelf and fireside seat. The Schopf, a traditional enclosed veranda, seamlessly connects the indoor spaces to an outdoor seating area, a fountain, and a herb garden.

A sanctuary under the roof

A compact, spiraling staircase leads from the kitchen to the attic, a more secluded and intimate part of the home. This upper level accommodates two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small hallway with a workspace, and an additional room with a library. The roof extends low, creating a cozy, enclosed atmosphere, while the windows, set deep into the facade, allow daylight to flood the space. The interplay of high and low ceilings, varying room sizes, and natural materials—untreated spruce, ash, grey plaster, and rough stone—enhances the house’s warm and timeless character. House in Tschengla is more than just a retreat; it is a place of balance, bridging the distance between urban life and mountain solitude.

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