Domek jako z čokolády

Who wouldn't love chocolate! This was exactly the thought that architect Reinhold Hammerer had in mind as he contemplated the design of a family home in Marienberg, Linz. Although the future owner preferred natural materials, Hammerer decided to take a slight risk by opting for an unconventional aluminum facade in a color that perfectly evokes a delicious chocolate bar. This small risk paid off handsomely, also thanks to the facade templates from PREFA Aluminiumprodukte.

It was not supposed to be just an ordinary house... It was meant to be a true home and a real place for relaxation and rest for a young married couple. The task was taken on by experienced Austrian architect Reinhold Hammerer, who was literally born for his profession. "When I look back, I see that even from a young age there were certain signals that I would head in this direction in the future. For instance, I loved LEGO building sets. I could play with them for hours on end. I was fascinated by how interesting buildings emerged from tiny bricks under my hands, and today, when real houses are created from much larger blocks, this fascination has not left me," recalls the architect of his beginnings.

Building a house for others, yet also a bit for oneself

With every realization, Hammerer is very aware that the house he builds will never be his own. Nevertheless, he tries for a moment to empathize with the role of the future owner and view the house through their eyes. "I don't try to project my wishes and dreams into the buildings. I only want to approach the project as responsibly as if I were going to live in the house myself. Because of this, it is not difficult to avoid various extravagances and elements that, while they may seem impressive, would not actually lead to pleasant and comfortable living," Hammerer describes his work philosophy. However, during each realization, there is one main and most important moment for him, and that is when he first finds himself on the site of the actual building. "I absorb the energy of the surroundings, I perceive the landscape there, and suddenly the whole project in my mind begins to take on a much more coherent form and clearer contours. I consider the first acquaintance with the site to be perhaps the most important moment. The second key moment comes during the actual construction. It often happens that one starts to have various ideas and improvements during it. However, I always try to resist this temptation and stick to the original idea at all costs."

A facade you want to bite into

At the beginning of the project, Hammerer received a whole series of requests from the married couple regarding the future shape of their dream home. It was supposed to be a building that would not disrupt the surrounding landscape but would harmoniously blend into it. In addition, the owners requested an open space and the best possible view of the truly beautiful surroundings. To fulfill the "natural aspect" of the whole task, the architect decided that the dominant material of the interior would be wood. "For Austria, wood has always been a typical building material, which is why we always find a whole range of wooden elements in authentic Austrian construction. However, the exterior is not the same as the interior of the house. So if wood dominated inside, I had to choose quite a different material for the exterior facade," Hammerer continues. The ideal facade solution was found by the architect in aluminum saw profiles from PREFA Aluminiumprodukte. Working with them is very comfortable and goes quickly. Additionally, the brand offers a forty-year warranty on color stability, so the enticing chocolate facade will remain as new for many years.

However, aluminum was not only used on the facade but also on the roof of the family house. For it, the architect chose the Prefalz system in anthracite color, which very suitably complemented the facade brown, creating a perfect optical harmony. "I have no doubt that in addition to the impressive exterior, the owners will also be delighted that they won't have to particularly care for the roof and facade in the coming decades. Personally, I consider maintenance-free qualities to be one of the main benefits of PREFA products," Hammerer concludes.

About the project

Project name: House W.
Object, location: family house, Linz, Austria
Type of building: new construction
Architects: Hammerer ZT GmbH, arch. R. Hammerer
Execution: Adolf Hofer GmbH
Type of roof: Prefalz
Roof color: P.10 anthracite
Type of facade: saw profile
Facade color: special color on request
PHOTOGRAPHY: Croce & WIR