Architect: smartvoll Architects

Consultants: Buschina & Partner (constructional engineer)

Project Type: Single Family Home

Project Location: Klosterneuburg near Vienna / Austria

Project Team: Dimitar Gamizov, Olya Sendetska, Philipp Buxbaum, Christian Kircher

Project Size: 200m²

Social Media: @smartvoll (Instagram)

Renderings: Tobias Colz

Photos: Dimitar Gamizov

“Addition, not Demolition”

Saving the old to make way for the new April 2020

House B. is an example of how the unbridled will of a family not to tear down the old house has inspired the new architecture in the most positive way. Adding instead of demolishing has become a design mantra due to the vigorous desire to preserve.

“The sum of the parts does not add up to a mere balance, but creates a powerful center, that is not only comfortable but where you feel at home,” says Dimitar Gamizov of smartvoll Architekten

This is an exterior view of the house with an abundance of gray shiplap walls and glass walls.

The gray and glass exteriors of the house are complemented by the lush landscaping of grass lawn and shrubs,

This is a close looka t the side of the house with a set of concrete steps adorned with potted plants and creeping vines along with thick shrubs.

This is a nighttime look at the back of the house showcasing the warm yellow glow of the large windows and glass walls that pairs well with the gray shiplap exterior walls.

This is a close look at the backyard grass lawn of the house that contrasts the concrete walkway coming from the patio just outside the glass doors.

This close look at the glass window shows a set of thick shrubs planted underneath the large glass.

This is a close look at the backyard landscape that has a grass lawn and tall trees and thick shrubs on the outer borders.

This view of the back of the house shows more of the grass lawn, concrete walkway and the large patio area at the back of the house.

This nighttime view of the back of the house shows how the windows and glass brighten the patio area with the escaping light of the interiors.

This is a look at the back of the house showcasing the gray shiplap walls that pair with the warm glow of the various glass windows and doors.

This is another side of the house with a concrete patio just outside glass doors adorned with potted plants.

THis view of the back of the house is from the vantage of the house across the street showcasing the fencing and the landscaping that creates separation from the street.

This is a close looka t the entryway to the living room brightened with a large glass window on the side.

This is a close look at the living room with a gray sectional sofa, built-in bookshelves and a skylight on its tall wooden ceiling.

This is a close look at the rustic kitchen with a large wooden kitchen island that also serves as a breakfast bar. On the far side is the study area with a wooden desk.

This is a close look at the dining room that has a large rectangular wooden dining table surrounded by various chairs and topped with pendant lights.

This is a close look at the bathroom with a floating sink, purple tiles and a shower area on the far side separated by glass from the bedroom.

This is a 3D representation of the structures of the property.

This is a 3D representation of the structures of the property labeling the sole existing house.

This is a 3D representation of the structures of the property labeling the centerpiece structure.

This is a 3D representation of the structures of the property labeling the living room structure.

This is a 3D representation of the structures of the property labeling the kids tower structure.

This is a 3D illustration showcasing a close look at the back of the house with the various structures of the house that creates an outdoor area.

This is a 3D representation of the side of the house that has a small play area with dark shiplap wooden deck flooring to match the shiplap walls.

This is a 3D representation of the house showcasing the kids tower and the dining area through the glass doors.

This is a collection of diagrams depicting the structures of the house.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the old house of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the entry structure of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the living room structure of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the kids tower of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the terrace area of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the three gardens of the property.

This is a 3D diagram depicting the various structures and areas of the house.

This is an illustration of the cross section of the house showcasing the various areas inside.

This is an illustration of the house's north elevation.

This is an illustration of the house's east elevation.

This is an illustration of the house's west elevation.

This is an illustration of the house's south elevation.

This is an illustration of the house's floor plans.

A family of six is desperate to preserve an old house on a plot of land in Klosterneuburg/Austria – a ruin that is too small but charming. The program is enormous and in order not to „crush“ the old house from a visual perspective, we turn one annex into three: the children’s tower, the living room, and the dining area, which connects old and new and where the family comes together like around a campfire.

The three new volumes are shifted around and against the old cottage in such a way, that three utterly different interior and exterior spaces are created. We simply love to give individual rooms radically different qualities:

The living room looks straight out into the vineyards, the children’s tower overlooks the valley and a small breakfast terrace says hello to the neighbors in the southeast. All this can be discovered in a matter of minutes in this cluster of houses and despite the distinctive spatial areas, one always has the feeling of strolling through a continuous space.

Equally diversified exterior spaces are added to the interiors: When a part of the family still has breakfast on the south terrace, the children’s birthday party in the west garden is already in full swing and between the renovated old house and the living room three fathers are chilling over a drink!

First Orientation

One enters the property immediately via one of the three outdoor areas. From here you can enter the renovated existing building via a few steps or take a look into the central and permeable dining area – the heart of the building.

From here you have a view of the south terrace as well as the garden in front of the vineyards – it is the central space and a link to different parts of the garden – it feels a bit like being in the middle of the green.

The dining room does not only connect the outdoor areas, but it is also the connecting link for all the interior areas as well: to the west the living room, to the north-east the two-story children’s tower with 4 children’s rooms and in the south the existing building with the kitchen on the ground floor and the parent’s bedroom on the upper floor.

The gardens are not large empty voids. By sitting between the volumes and being connected by the dining area, they originate with the best of both worlds: they form a combined large entity and at the same time are small, easily graspable, and visible sections, each with its own character. We think that a lot of colorful things are richer than little of the same. The garden is substantial – because open space is essential!

Saving the old to allow for the New

We have taken the desire of the owners to preserve the existing house at all costs very seriously. Existing buildings are atmospheric sources that enhance every bare new building with its history, patina, and charm. A sure instinct, care, and caution are needed here in dealing with the volumes.

A small existing house is happy to be overwhelmed by new and large volumes. This is certainly one of the reasons why we decided to accommodate the new spatial program in three new buildings. These form a passe-partout that presents and celebrates the old rather than letting it perish – the solitary effect of the existing building is not damaged by the additions, but rather enhanced.

We also did not want to devalue the existing building in functional terms. The kitchen – the gravitational center of every single-family home – is located in the old part in direct proximity to the dining room.

Family frequency should not be taken away from the old but should contribute to a lively exchange between old and new, and this is exactly how the functions are arranged: one constantly commutes back and forth between existing and new buildings. In this way, we are able to continuously allow the residents to benefit from the tension-filled alternation between charmingly aged and newly designed architecture.

“The precise positioning of the connections between interior and exterior, the subtle coordination of generous views, and limited insights can be clearly seen throughout the entire project,” says Christian Kircher of smartvoll Architekten.