Christine Lechner

youthhostel gerlos

This project aims to make school trips more affordable in an ecological setting. Therefore, the hotel is constructed using regional solid wood construction. Biomass district heating is employed to heat the hotel, and the primary mode of transportation is by coach. Additionally, the residual wood from the cross-laminated timber walls has been repurposed into furniture. The main building of the hostel is designed as a longitudinal wooden structure. The primary objective was to create a south-facing U-shaped "village square" between the main building and the street. This square is accompanied by two wings shaped as landscape waves, integrating the square seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Upon entering the hostel through the village square, one finds themselves in the foyer. Here, the vertical circulation begins with suspended ramps and generous voids, serving as a three-dimensional promenade. These voids also enable visual connections to the lower landscape on the opposite side of the building and to the sports areas within. A climbing wall runs through this vertical circulation, originating from the lower-level sports area.

social housing farmachstraße

The non-profit housing development Farmschachstrasse is located in the town of Saalfelden in the state of Salzburg, Austria. The project was the result of an architectural competition, in which the design approach of the architects AGRE lechner lechner schallhammer, together with architect Johannes Schallhammer , was able to convince. The objective was to create assisted living, social housing and living space near the center. The urban planning approach was to place five cube houses in a gap to allow views of the surrounding mountains. The cube houses are interwoven by a curved green and meeting area. This meeting area is equipped with plenty of seating and loungers, creating space for encounters. The buildings react to the topography and the local development. In the direction of the small-scale development in the west and along the slope, the building structure responds with a staggered height development. In the direction of Farmachstraße, the quarter opens up with two green areas. A right of way is possible directly in front of the assisted living if necessary. Guest parking spaces are also provided for the assisted living. The community gardens and children's play areas in the traffic-calmed outdoor area create many opportunities for communication and integration. The buildings do not have a back, but have an open design of equal value on all four sides. The facade is a pre-greyed wooden facade. The roofs have extensive greenery and photovoltaic systems. The two-sided "corner apartments" with wide diagonal views, as well as sun in the morning and evening and sunny balconies around the corner are particularly worth mentioning. The bicycle spaces are placed under the cantilevered front area directly in the entrance area of the individual houses. There is also a bus stop in the area of the guest car park. The stationary traffic has mainly been relocated to the underground car park in order to create space for the meeting zone between the buildings.

amorph livingsculpture

Our architectural vision revolves around seamless integration with the natural environment. Using cutting-edge tools like Google Earth, we strategically identified key vantage points to inform our layout, guided by landmarks like Leopoldkron Castle, Leopoldskorner Pond, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the majestic Untersberg. We embraced a free-flowing floor plan with organic window soffits to optimize sightlines and harmonize with the landscape. The slender structures, positioned at angles, create a captivating central opening. The ground floor entrance features a sculptural staircase that enhances views of the enchanting garden and water area. Attention to detail extends to the ground floor, establishing a harmonious connection with the outdoors, reminiscent of a cozy hobbit cave. Inspired by the natural wonders, including the garden and Leopoldkroner Pond, we crafted an ambiance that celebrates our surroundings. Outdoor space acts as a vital mediator, gracefully directing gazes towards the adjacent pond. Blending two water surfaces, an elegant external spiral staircase creates a living artwork. Carefully curated plantings strengthen the connection to the landscape, enhancing the overall experience. The first floor introduces two expansive terraces offering breathtaking vistas of the pond, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and Schloss Leopoldskron. This living sculpture, showcasing artistic innovation, invites exploration through circular journeys facilitated by vertical openings. Timber frame construction, shaped with precision using CNC milling machines, forms the heart of our vision. Generously insulated wooden studs ensure comfort and energy efficiency. The facade is coated with rustic Polyurea, commonly used in zoos' rhinoceros tanks.

above the trees

The building site, located on a slope in Salzburg City, is accessed via a small road. The hillside location offers the possibility of designing a structure that allows the hillside to be experienced in its various altitudes, creates a connection to the outside space and enables distant views. Except for the covered forecourt on the ground floor, the structure is kept compact. The forecourt is dominated by the top floor and creates a valuable horizontal surface on the mountain. The primary relationship to the outside space is created by ceiling-high window areas, which are oriented analogously to the balconies and terraces east, south and west. The floor plan tapers towards the distant view. This enables a view of the mountain scenery in the rear rooms, even from the bathtub. From the side of the city of Salzburg, the body appears so slim and inconspicuous. The building itself consists of three floors. The building is entered via the forecourt. Due to the hillside location, the anteroom, which is also an access, is on the first floor. The guest rooms and a translucent bathroom are located here. The view in the distance is deliberately withheld in order to increase the surprise effect. The heart of this house is on the floor above, which also forms the roofing of the forecourt. The intention was to create a living space that feels like a high seat just above the treetops. The material looks lively and natural. The mixture of wooden construction, concrete walls on sight and pig iron create tension and cosiness at the same time. Structurally, all components in contact with the ground, as well as the stiffening core, are made of reinforced concrete. The remaining walls and ceilings as well as the entire upper floor are made of wood. Steel girders and steel supports are used to support the structural requirements. None of this is hidden, but rather consciously shown in its raw beauty. The kitchen and living room impress with its breathtaking views of the Salzburg mountain landscape. The tension between concrete and wood extends into the kitchen. A concreted kitchen block and an open concreted fireplace invite you to linger. The free-standing kitchen unit is in turn oriented towards the mountain backdrop. The canopies and terraces protect the living area from overheating and create a feeling of security despite the large windows. The light holes in the canopy create a varied play with daylight and one of them is used to access the sauna area on the roof. Here you can enjoy a day in the dramatic sunset with a view of the mountains.

funiture in the landscape

In the course of the planning process in 1997 , fundamental wishes for the living space were concretized, which can hardly be formulated in the case of dense development such as a usual row house. A solution could be found for this problem, however, each residential unit is organized like a classic single-family house in order to generate a feeling of independence. In addition, all floors are connected directly to the garden with oversized verandas. Via these verandas, the roof areas are also partially accessed externally as a replacement for lost floor areas. The alignment of the living rooms and the veranda areas was chosen in such a way that privacy is created for the individual families. Due to the high rainfall in the building area, the verandas are actually open spaces that can be used for livingand that have become indispensable for the residents. For a subsequent change of the living requirements, without great effort, the device for extensions and conversions is ensured. The basement was also thought of as a possible extension of the usable living space, as it represents the last changeable space reserve of a family with a small amount of space. It is reached from the open middle part of the house directly via an additional house entrance and thus enables a later separation of the residential unit. All basement rooms were generously opened with a ribbon of windows so that the basement rooms are bright and comfortable. The body of the building appears to be floating due to the visual separation of the body through the ribbon of windows. The open middle section under the raised residential unit is for general use and is designed as a meeting point for the residents. Garden parties, games and events can also be held here under the covered open space. The choice of wood as a building material was clear to the residents for ecological and economic aspects as well as for reasons of living comfort. The configuration of the structure was designed to be compact, but a rigid basic stance on this issue was broken in the sense of better living conditions. The passive house standard that was actually being strived for was abandoned in favor of the quality of living with large glazing and open space references and the building was instead designed as a low-energy building. With the high standard of thermal insulation chosen, particular attention was paid to the design of the details and the execution control. The windows were designed as three-pane glazing, which were placed over the window frames and window frames in order to additionally insulate the construction with the help of the glazing - after all, the area of the window and the reveal is disproportionately involved in heat loss with normal execution. The constructive measures were supplemented by leakage checks on the building envelope. To check thermal bridges, infrared images were made in order to be able to repair any weak points. Two living parties opted for CO2-neutral firing with an automatic pellet stove in the basement, the other living party ventilates the house for better air hygiene and distributes the heat by means of a controlled living room ventilation via a post-heating register, with the advance warning of the outside air via an earth register and then through a heat exchanger takes place. The house can also be cooled in summer, and the windows can also be opened at any time.