In the quiet community of Oberschlierbach in Upper Austria, Berlin-based Danish architect and furniture designer Sigurd Larsen has conceived the Mountain House. Wrapped in a one-way mirrored glass facade on the lower level, the family home offers direct access to the picturesque valley and meadow landscape, while the windows on the upper floor provide framed views of the snow-covered Alps.

The architectural language of the prefabricated cross-laminated timber structure with a classic gable shape directly reflects its rural context. Inside, clear lines and understated details echo the minimalist aesthetic of Larsen’s furniture designs. The ceramic-tiled roof complements the dark gray-stained cladding of local larch wood on the upper floor, subtly changing hues under different lighting conditions.

A perforated section in the structure, forming a covered entrance on the upper floor, serves as the spatial starting point. At this intersection of private and communal areas, the program sequence flows through garage, office, bathroom, and bedrooms, which feature pine floors and white plaster walls. In contrast, a concrete floor extends through the glass-walled rooms on the ground floor.

Freestanding walls act as load-bearing elements for the cantilevered gable roof structure, dividing the space into kitchen and living areas. A special emphasis in the overall design is placed on the corner bench in the kitchen area. As an iconic feature of any Austrian house, the bench is positioned almost precisely where the house meets the sloping green hillside. Together with the staircase, this wooden element forms the heart of the mountain house and reinforces its conceptual connection to the landscape.

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