Zita Kern is a farmer and a literary scholar. Fruit, vegetables, herbs, chicken, and cats make up one part of her idiosyncratic world, books the other. What was lacking was a bathroom and a space for writing and reading. The structure of the existing building provided the framework. An existing room with a woodbeam ceiling becomes the introverted bathroom; a few beams are removed to bring light in from above. The volume that has landed atop the existing structure is respectful of it: the new part functions autonomously and is poised atop the unaltered base. The massing, with a skin of coldmilled aluminum, absorbs the mood – of the weather and the surroundings: the skin makes the structure seem to dematerialize and obscures its purpose. In contrast to the existing structure the new one more resembles a tent than a permanent dwelling. Though it is part of the farm ensemble it is set apart from it. With simple means the intellectual sphere and the work of the farmer are drawn apart
client:
Zita Kern
Team ARTEC Architekten:
Bettina Götz and Richard Manahl
Maria Kirchweger
awards:
Recognition Award for the Zita Kern Space, Lower Austria State Cultural Prize, 2002
Clients' Award of the ZV to Zita Kern for the Zita Kern Space, 1999
Aluminum Architecture Prize for the Zita Kern Space, 1998.
photography:
Margherita Spiluttini
ARTEC Architekten (models)
Project Data
structural engineering: Ingenieurbüro Oskar Graf, Vienna
building contractor: Wögler, Groß-Enzersdorf
carpenter: Höllwart, St. Johann/Salzburg
glazing, Front: Heinrich Manahl, Bludenz
roofer: Willibald Bolkovac, Groß-Enzersdorf
interior: Klar, Vienna
textile: Alles aus Stoff Leder Kohlmaier, Vienna
start of planning: 1996
start of construction: 1997
completion: 1998
built-up area: 115 m²
effective floor area: 60 m², 33 m² conversion
enclosed space: 346 m³
Publications
Die Presse, Spektrum, Vienna, 11. 4. 1998. Christian Kühn: "Die Skulptur im Zaubergarten"
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Oris Nr. 1, Zagreb, 1999. Vera Grimmer: "Abstract Concept for the Ivory Tower"
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ORIS 88, 2014. ORIS d.o.o., Zagreb. “New programs make new architecture possible”
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Architektur Aktuell, Vienna, Nr. 217/218, 1998. Liesbeth Waechter-Böhm: "Ufo auf dem Kuhstall"
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www.architektur-aktuell.at
ARCHITEKT, 10 2006, Prague
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Vom Nutzen der Architekturfotografie. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2015
Scenes and Scenarios. Bienal de Canarias, 2009
Architettura Parassita. Strategie di Riciclaggio per la Citta. Sara Marini, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2008
Second Biennial of the Canary Islands. Program, guide and content, 2009
Christian Kühn-Ringstrasse ist überall. Texte über Architektur und Stadt 1992-2007. Springer-Verlag, Vienna, 2008
profil, Nr 27, 30. Juni 2008. Patricia Grzonka: „Backstein und Alupilz“
H.O.M.E, März 2008. Wojciech Czaja: „Die nackte Wahrheit“
Parasite Architecture. Recycling strategies for the contemporary city, PhD thesis, Sara Marini, Universita di Camerino, 2007
Stedebouw & Architectuur, Mai 2007, Nr. 4, Nieuwegein/NL. “City on the roof”
ORTE. Architektur in Niederösterreich 1997-2002. W.Zschocke and Marcus Nitschke, Springer Verlag, Vienna/NY 2007
ARTEC Architekten. Catalogue fort he internet project of www.gaaleriie.net, Alena Hanzlova (editor), Prague 2006
Materials for Architectural Design. Victoria Ballard Bell with Patrick Rand. 2006, Princeton
Architectural Press NY and Lawrence King, London
Converted Spaces. Evergreen, Taschen Verlag, Cologne
a_schau. Österreichische Architektur im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert. Gabriele Kaiser, Monika Platzer, AzW, Vienna 2006
Profil, Nr. 8 / Feb 2006, Vienna. Dietmar Steiner: “Die konkrete Chronistin“ Margherita Spiluttini
Rock over Barock. Young and Beautiful: 7 + 2. Springer, Vienna/New York / Aedes, 2006
Profil, Nr. 49 / Dez 2005, Wien. Anne Isopp: “Wohnen im Heustadl”
The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture, Phaidon Press, London, 2004
Frauenarchitektouren. Arbeiten von Architektinnen in Österreich, Verlag Anton Pustet, Salzburg/Munich, 2004
Maximalist Houses, Encarna Castillo. Loft Publications, H Kliczkowski-Onlybook, S.L., Madrid, 2004
Wohnkonzepte für die Zukunft, Paco Asensio. Callwey Verlag, Munich, 2003
Minimalismus Minimalisme. Feierabend Verlag, Berlin, 2003. Loft Publications (editor)
Ristrutturazioni. A cura di: Pietro Carlo Pellegrini. Federico Motta Editore, Milan, 2003
Metal Architecture. Design and Construction. Birkhäuser, Basel/Boston/Berlin, 2003. Fröhlich, Schulenberg (eds.)
Österreichische Architektur Heute. Ausstellungskatalog, Prague 2003. Kuratorin Zuzana Borovickova
„Turn On“, Wien, Universität für Angewandte Kunst, 2003: Margit Ulama, Broschüre zur Vortragsreihe im Radiokulturhaus
Weiterbauen, Katharina Jester und Enno Schneider, Bauwerk Verlag, Berlin, 2002
Geschichte der Bildenden Kunst in Österreich, Band 6 / 20. Jahrhundert, Architektur seit 1945 (Maria Welzig), Prestel Verlag, Munich, 2002
Architektur als Antinomie, Margit Ulama, Folio Verlag, Vienna/Bolzano, 2002
The Next House, Loft Publications, Barcelona, and HarperCollins, New York, 2002
Altbau Modernisierung, Johannes Fechner (ed.), Springer Verlag, Vienna, 2002
Monitor, Moskau, Nr. 4, 2001
Architectural Design. New Habitats in Converted Buildings, Links, Barcelona, 2001
Toolpub Vienna, Floating Editorial Studio, Vienna Issue, 2001
Bauen mit Aluminium, Hugues Wilquin, Birkhäuser, 2001
Trend Nr. 4 und Profil Nr. 14, Vienna, 2001. Brigitte Vallazza: "Vergrössern und verbessern"
Deutsche Bauzeitschrift, Gütersloh, Nr. 1 / 2001. Till Wöhler: "Silberstreif am Horizont"
Metamorphosen, Gunda Dworschak / Alfred Wenke, Werner Verlag, 2000. "Aufeinander geprallt"
AMC, Paris, Nr. 108, 2000. Bernard Avril: "Details. Extensions de Maisons"
Abitare, Milan, Nr. 391, 2000. Patricia Malfatti: "Oggetto Poliedrico"
Home: The Twentieth Century House, London, 1999. Deyan Sudijc and Tulga Beyerle (ed.)
Kenchiku Bunka, Tokyo, Vol 53, Nr. 625, 1998
Werk, Bauen + Wohnen, Zürich, Nr. 11, 1998. "Kontinuität und Bruch"
Beyond The Minimal, AA, London, 1998. Peter Allison (curator)