Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Table, Countertop, Chair, Windows, BeamEdel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Table, Sofa, Windows, ChairEdel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - ForestEdel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - FacadeEdel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - More Images+ 8

Spittal an der Drau District, Austria
Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Facade
© Christian Wöckinger

Text description provided by the architects. Built on the highest point of the Katschberg Alpline Pass, 1600 meters high, the two monolithic apartment-towers edel:weiss demonstrate an almost symbolic portal between the two provinces Salzburg and Kärnten and have been appointed to act as the new town’s landmark for today.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Forest
© Jens Weber

Balancing a respect for Nature and Tradition, as well as the interests of the tourism industry means balancing the essential requirements. Building in the Alps requires a constant search for stabilisation, a constant search for new solutions to build ecologically justifiable buildings.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Table, Sofa, Windows, Chair
© Jens Weber

For Katschberg, a traditional Austrian ski resort between Salzburg and Carinthia, Matteo Thun consciously created two vertical buildings - in order to avoid the ongoing urban sprawl of this traditional winter sports area. By preserving the surrounding green soil and by reducing the floor space to the minimum size a solution was found that is in line with the ambient environment.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Beam, Forest
© Christian Wöckinger

This architectural concept avoided the complex facilities of infrastructures for electricity and water supplies, and no supplementary roads were needed to connect the two apartment towers to the nearby Hotel Cristallo, providing all necessary services to the residences.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Table, Countertop, Chair, Windows, Beam
© Jens Weber

By following the motto ‘kilometre 0’, wood, the main building material, once again stands up to the test. The two cylindrical structures are wrapped by a round bodied diamond rhombus structure made from local larch wood that symbolizes the direct association to the environment, fusing the inside and the exterior.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Beam, Steel
© Christian Wöckinger

The two circular residential towers with different heights balance the given ground and measuring 20 meters in diameter, house 64 apartments varying from 45 to 180 square meters. Identical layouts with different scales allow all apartments spectacular panoramic views to the natural and unaltered landscape. By using mainly natural materials, the interiors of the different residences are designed with generous layouts; lines and forms are clear and light. Two different styles of décor provide the choose of a basic configuration: a modern, urban flavour or a more classic, traditional alpine option. The entire complex is heated by the nearby power station, delivering biomass energy.

Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners - Image 11 of 13
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Project location

Address:Katschberg Pass, 5582, Austria

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Edel_Weiss Residence / Matteo Thun & Partners" 03 Sep 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/423346/edel_weiss-residence-matteo-thun-and-partners> ISSN 0719-8884

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