Nothing is simple

At first glance, it seems austere to the point of being dull. However, with each subsequent look, it reveals a bit of its refinement. The new building of a two-story family house near Upper Austrian Linz unveils moderate but nonetheless revolutionary architectural features of post-war modernity. Under the direction of pb + p Architekten, it has taken on a distinctive form, and anyone critical of post-war buildings will literally hold their breath upon looking at it.

"Limited and yet high-quality. The opposing scales are completely balanced here," describes the paradoxes of the era Alfred Barth from the pb + p Architekten studio. Since the builder is a collector and lover of the mid-20th century, Barth had to find a bridge between modernity and enduring value to satisfy the investor while not burying the unique character of the building. The limited amount of material used has become the dominant feature of the structure, which does not provoke. It is modestly integrated into the surrounding development, yet it remains unique. The suspended ventilated façade, clad with PREFA profile with wave Profilwelle, has a literally magnetic impact. "The material used is modern, of high quality, yet industrially puristic. Exactly tailored for this project," clarifies Barth. With its natural aluminum finish, it appears organic and does not easily become outdated.

The house is situated on the outskirts of Linz, close to a busy bypass. For this reason, it has completely closed lines towards the street. The ground plan is subordinated to functionality and primarily serves as a large-space garage. The living areas are located on the upper floor. The foundation of the building is an insulated reinforced concrete skeleton. In addition to the aluminum façade, we find cladding panels in the ground floor interior. In contrast, the living spaces are lined with panels of solid wood.

Separate Object

"Architecture is alive, it evolves. That's why we could not succumb despite many small and picturesque houses around us, and we had to take a slightly different direction," describes the architect the story of this new building. "After all, it is clear that with the growing demand for housing, architects need to be motivated and encouraged towards an innovative approach; otherwise, we would soon get lost in a tangle of uniform shapes very quickly," adds Barth.

Only pb + p Architekten designs about 30 objects of various orientations each year—from garden pavilions to office buildings. And they strive to approach each one in an original way. As a firm with six architects, they do not care for excessive promotion of their works. It is enough for them that their projects are talked about. And yet, or precisely because of this, they remain fully occupied. They consider this the most valuable expression of recognition of the quality of their work.

Alfred Barth's professional story began at the Higher Technical School in Hallstatt. Here he learned much of what he still applies in his practice today. He subsequently studied at the University of Art and Design in Linz. Even then, broader artistic currents influenced him, where he could fully utilize his imagination. This is evident in the results of his work even today. As he himself says, "nothing is simple," and every task sooner or later becomes a challenge for him. He draws inspiration for overcoming such challenges from nature, far from the center of Linz.

The implementation was carried out by the company Innocente Ges.m.b.H., which has many years of experience with PREFA materials. They regularly attend training at PREFA Academy to reflect on various news in the company's wide product range. "We enjoy working with aluminum products; they are diverse, well-moldable, and there are plenty to choose from. 40-year warranty on materials is just another bonus for the owner of this roofing," states Martin Affenzeller.

About the Project

Object, location: family house, Leonding, Austria
Type of construction: new building
Author: pb + Architekten Patzelt Barth + Partner zt-GmbH
Realization: Innocente Ges.m.b.H.
Type of façade: PREFA Profilwelle
Color of façade: natural aluminum
PHOTOGRAPHY: Croce & WIR