Dezeen Magazine

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat is twisted to shelter the entrance

The shingle-clad upper storeys of this house on the outskirts of the Austrian city of Linz by Vienna practice Destilat are rotated to create a cantilevered overhang above the entrance (+ slideshow).

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Destilat was asked to convert the existing property on a hillside in the Bachlberg suburb of Linz into a property accommodating three self-contained apartments.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

The original house was gutted and rebuilt from the level of the existing concrete pedestal, with the storeys above rotated slightly to shelter the entrance and make the most of views towards the Alps.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Grey shingles covering the upper storeys give the exterior of the building a monolithic appearance, while the gabled profile typical of Alpine properties is interrupted by a scattered arrangement of windows.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

At the front of the house a variety of outdoor spaces are created by openings in the facade.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

A gap in the pitched roof provides a small balcony outside the dining space of the penthouse, while the first floor features a terrace framed by a long aperture.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Each of the storeys above the basement garage contains an apartment with its own sleeping, eating and living spaces, with the top floor also incorporating a mezzanine area housing a gallery and guest bedroom.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

The ground floor apartment occupies an area previously used as an indoor pool and provides multiple points of access directly into the surrounding garden.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

The penthouse apartment features an open plan living space with a fireplace that projects from one wall to provide some separation from the dining and kitchen area.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

A black concrete base and rough plaster hood add to the monolithic and sculptural look of this central feature.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

The massive ceiling height and pitched roof are accentuated by pendant lights suspended above the dining table.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Here's a project description from the architects:


House B.A.B.E.

B.A.B.E. stands for exclusive living at Bachlberg.

The former domicile of a family of entrepreneurs from Linz is located near the top of Bachlberg, in very quiet area near the woods, overlooking the provincial capital of
Linz, with a panoramic view of the distant Alpine foothills.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

In cooperation with W. Wimmer, this run-down object with its spacious garden was converted into a modern apartment house with three living units. The original structure was gutted completely and extended by an additional floor with insulated timber framing.

Starting at the socle storey, the entire structure was slightly turned to optimise its viewing angles.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Covered entirely with grey shingles made of asbestos cement (Eternit), the building has a very monolithic and sculptural character due to its seemingly random distribution of apertures for windows, loggias and terraces.

The apartments of this house have very diverse characters and usable floor areas ranging from 140 to 200 sq m.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

The former indoor pool area on the ground floor was converted to an apartment with direct access to the property's garden.

However, the crown jewel of this building is the penthouse with its open living, kitchen and dining area and up to 6.5 meter high, open pitched roof and a gallery. A massive open fireplace is the almost archaic centre due to its reduced design as well as its concrete base and rough plasterwork.

House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade

Besides the impressive main room, which includes a gallery, the entrance area as well as the bathrooms were individually designed to meet the client's requirements.

Basement plan of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
Basement plan - click for larger image
Ground floor plan of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
Ground floor plan - click for larger image
First floor plan of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
First floor plan - click for larger image
Mezzanine and second floor plans of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
Mezzanine and second floor plans - click for larger image
North west facade of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
North west facade - click for larger image
North east facade of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
North east facade - click for larger image
South west facade of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
South west facade - click for larger image
South east facade of House B.A.B.E. by Destilat features windows dotted across shingle-clad facade
South east facade - click for larger image