Bregenzerwald Vacation Home Built on Existing Foundations with Solid Wood Structure
Set deep in the Austrian forest of Fontanella, the Bregenzerwald Vacation Home by Architektur-SCHWEIGHOFER replaces a 1960s container house with a carefully considered timber structure. Instead of demolishing everything, the architects reused the existing foundations, adapting the footprint to house an entire family.
Built entirely from solid wood, the home combines structural and thermal efficiency with a warm, authentic interior. The prefabricated wall and ceiling panels arrived on-site with all utility openings precisely cut, reflecting detailed planning. Views of the surrounding forest were carefully framed through window openings, and access to the home remains unique—via a 70-step stairway from the nearby road.
Asplit-level layout creates intimate yet connected zones. Bedrooms are low-ceilinged and quiet, while the kitchen, dining, and living areas stretch across multiple levels and open to the landscape through wide sliding windows. A black steel furnace anchors the living space—traditional and timeless in a house that balances alpine charm with refined architectural clarity.
Photographs:Marc Lins