A modern take on tradition

In the idyllic natural surroundings of the municipality of Landsee in the Austrian province of Burgenland, two architects from Vienna have created their dream home. It is not only the picturesque landscape that makes this project so special, but also the reinterpretation of a traditional type of building typical of the region - the Streckhof.

Classic form, new function

The name Streckhof was used for the long, narrow gabled houses built up until the 1950s, that are now slowly but surely disappearing from most communities. For this reason, the owners have opted for a new interpretation of the Streckhof. In doing so, they consciously considered the traditional way of construction, which was done in brick and interpreted it in a contemporary way.

In the past, the Streckhof was divided into different areas, with a residential wing and stables and farm areas behind it - the owners reinterpreted these elements in their new construction that they started building in 2020: Their new country house now also consists of several homes that form an ensemble by joining the gabled roofs together.

Individualism under one roof

Continuing the traditional concept, each wing of the house has a specific purpose: House 1 is home to the entrance area and the guest wing. From here, you enter house 2, which is positioned transversely and offset to the back, with the bright living area, which is extended by a large veranda. Moving forward, house 3 contains the kitchen and house 4 is then home to the owners' private sleeping area. The terraces in front, created by the projection of the roofs, connect the houses to the garden from the outside. Facing the forest to the north, the different lengths of the wings create studios and shady seating areas.

Nature sets the tone

Continuing the spirit of the classic Burgenland-Streckhof style, where natural materials were used, for the new interpretation in Landsee, Porotherm blocks were used for both the exterior and interior walls. According to the client, the decision to use clay products was a conscious one, as the Burgenland house had always been built using cyclopean masonry and bricks. They were committed to this tradition and implemented a contemporary interpretation of these gabled houses and roofs.
With regard to the design of the characteristic gabled roofs, the architects wanted to match the style and color of the surrounding nature as closely as possible. Clay tiles were therefore also chosen as the material here. The gable roofs with a total area of around 560 m² were covered with approx. 6,000 pieces of Tondach Wiener Norma Engobe basalt roof tiles.The selected tile format was compatible with the project's roof geometry and architectural design. The tile system offers flexibility in deck length, which can facilitate its use in renovation projects.

"Together with the clients, we managed to give the country house a unique character through the choice of roof tiles, their shape and color, and to capture the atmosphere of the surroundings as well as the traditional Burgenland style," says Peter Mayer from K2 Dach und Bau GmbH, responsible for the roofing.