Tiled chalets for dream holiday

In the summer of 2020, a unique haven of quiet and relaxation was created next to the Neusiedler See, a large lake straddling the Austrian/Hungarian border: The 20 chalets with grey and white building shells are surrounded by an unspoilt natural environment and evoke the holidays of bygone times.

20 chalets surrounded by an unspoilt natural environment in Austria

Environmentally friendly construction methods were used to create these 20 new lodges. They are located right in the UNESCO world heritage site of Fertő/Neusiedler See in Austria and stand like a row of mementos of sun-warmed days, carefree vacations and idyllic retreats. These vintage-style holiday homes are an extension of the VILA VITA Pannonia hotel and holiday village, which covers 200 hectares and also encompasses 27 hotel rooms, eight suites, five apartments and 127 bungalows. The Tondach tiles are laid irregularly over the roofs and façades like a soft blanket, and allow the lakeside lodges to blend into the untouched natural landscape. And not just visually; but also because of clay, the completely natural construction material which is compliant with the highest ecological construction standards.

Harmoniously integrated into the landscape

Each of the luxuriously equipped houses has a private bathing jetty and large panoramic windows through which light floods into the living space and provide breathtaking views. The planners used 3940 m² of Tondach tiles in a white/grey antique finish to create the vintage appearance. The tiles are slightly slimmer at the edges than in the middle and this generates an extraordinary effect in combination with the selected installation pattern.

“Our aim was to harmoniously integrate the buildings into the landscape – with their proximity to the green landscape and blue water,” explains architect Anton Mayerhofer from Vienna. “But we also wanted the lakeside lodges to stand out from their surroundings. The interplay of grey shades on these vintage-style tiles perfectly suited the blue and green tones of the surrounding scenery.”

Every house is unique

The unique location in a national park was a particular challenge when planning and implementing the project. “The prevailing strong winds at the site meant that it was vital to securely screw down the tiles,” explains master roofer Gerald Haider from Neusiedl am See. “The coverings have withstood the storms well. Not one tile has come loose.”

The roofers were also able to express more creativity in this roofing project than in other projects. He continues: “This vintage roof tile comes in three different formats and is somewhat thicker than a conventional tile used for roofing or cladding façades. The manufacturers do not specify a fixed pattern, so we could get creative during installation – and this means that every house is unique.”