Revitalizing a Family Legacy

Originally built in the 1980s and altered over the years, the Multi-Generational House has undergone a thoughtful transformation to serve three generations of a single family. Located in Kehlegg in the Austrian Alps, the project by MW Architekten expands and redefines the original structure to support evolving living arrangements without erasing its history. The architectural intervention strikes a balance between continuity and renewal, accommodating new uses while honoring past layers.

A Contextual Approach

Set within a hillside village overlooking the Rhine Valley, the house benefits from sweeping views across Lake Constance to the Alps. This remarkable backdrop informed the architectural response, which moves away from previous piecemeal modifications. Referencing the clear typology of traditional village buildings, the new design incorporates a solid plaster base and engages with the region’s architectural language. Rather than imposing, it respects the village scale and fabric while introducing a contemporary sensibility.

Wooden Shell as Framework

A defining feature of the redesign is the timber shell in natural fir that wraps the structure, generating a visual unity and establishing a buffer between old and new. This spatial threshold acts as both façade and transitional zone, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior. The interplay between the existing core and the added envelope gives rise to layered spatial experiences, anchoring the house in its surroundings while offering modern functionality.

Craftsmanship and Clarity

Major structural changes included replacing the upper floor with a new wooden volume, due to outdated ceiling heights. The basement and ground floor were reworked to create a coherent spatial logic. Through careful detailing and collaboration with local craftsmen, the project achieves a cohesive interior identity. The result is a space of tactile richness and material precision—an expression of architecture as enduring craft and thoughtful habitation.

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