What inspired you to become an architect?
David
I liked building since I was a child, a classic Lego, motorcycles, whatever. During the summers I worked on my uncle’s farm. I got a professional education as a metalworker later on. My father was an artist who would build larger-scale objects. That’s how I got introduced to the world of architecture.
Verena
After finishing high school I went to Vienna to study languages and literature. But very soon I decided to start architectural studies at the University of Innsbruck, which my brother was already attending. The very open degree program with a lot of possibilities to find your individual also artistic approach attracted me. The nearness to the arts made me feel comfortable.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Building means responding to a spatial necessity. And there are plenty of ways how to answer. With every new project, we are interested in fresh approaches regarding the construction tasks, the mental challenges, the material implementation, the design processes, and the social components. As we are surrounded by a rich fund of buildings the tendency towards refurbishment, redesign, and conversion is remarkable. But being strictly tied to the past can prevent evolution. We think that it is necessary to understand the essence of certain already existing principles to develop them further, to adapt them, and to go beyond. The tools we are using nowadays to design have changed our approach to architecture as they aren’t the same anymore. In addition the processes of digitally controlled production to some extent make it possible to get rid of the limitations of traditional production, broadening thereby our horizon.
Can you tell us about your favorite project and why it stands out?
This is a difficult question which is why we had to think about it for the longest. It is not only the built projects you deeply link with but also the unbuilt.
Verena
Speaking about a recent project I am tied to RVTK – Renovation and extension of a residential building. It was demanding as we had to deal with three involved parties under one roof. Furthermore, the construction site was more distant than we were used to. The site management required neat and precise preparation, although lots of changes were made at the moment. Maybe this project taught me on the one hand to be more relaxed if things change and on the other hand that rough details or unfinished ones do not always have a massive influence on the overall impression. Only after getting the pictures from our photographer I could recognize the initial project idea and feel satisfied with the outcome.
What is your favorite architectural detail?
A good detail at the end always seems natural. You do not see the effort in developing and convincing clients and executors. The wrapped carpet in the meditation space of the attic floor of the church St. Joseph in the Woods forms a nest dissolving in its upper part in wooden boarding. The idea for this expression of coziness and safety came from a wasp nest we had found in the – at that time – dark and unused sub-roof. In the following meeting with the builder’s board, we explained the wrapping by laying down the wasp nest. The reaction was overload. In the end, we realized it and it is significant, a core detail.
Another hidden detail can be found in the ceiling element at Café Restaurant Zentral, which serves as a luminaire and bass absorber at the same time. The backlit surface is made of three satin acrylic panels from which the central has symmetric rebates so that it can be lifted and turned around in case of malfunction.
Do you have a favorite material?
No, not really. Of course, there are certain materials we appreciate for their properties, either technical or sensorial, and maybe others that seem superfluous to us. But primarily a material has to fulfill the requested essential requirements for that precise application. After that, the choice for one material or the other depends on which would meet the demands perfectly. If, furthermore, there is still room for choices, we trust our taste and feelings, abandoning the habitual pattern. Especially regarding the building envelope energy-efficient and sustainable construction and renovation are obligatory in our region to a certain extent. Materials and joints therefore have to be certified. For the interior, there is more wiggle room for experimentation.
What is your process for starting a new project?
Usually, a project starts with meeting the clients and getting to know each other and their necessities. The on-site inspection is then a further essential step. In addition, the research on urbanistic limitations and the review of existing plan material (in case of renovation) define the precise frame wherein we can move. From this basics, the construction task is specified. We start with sketches, mock-ups, talks, mind maps. Besides a ground survey provides information about the morphology, which is crucial for the development of projects in the landscape.
How do you balance creativity and practicality in your designs?
Creativity and practicality are closely linked – one cannot function without the other. The clients’ requests combined with the urbanistic limitations require creative approaches not to forget the practicability. Furthermore keeping the project within the defined cost structure encourages ingenuity leading to initially not imaginable solutions. That makes it thrilling.
What role does the surrounding environment play in your architectural projects?
The mainly rural context defines our field of action, as well as a rich variety of buildings of different eras and various social environments, you can find everywhere in Italy. The delicate relationship of built and grown plays a fundamental role in approaching new projects. Landscape in our vocabulary mostly is the main challenge as we have to deal with a complexity of themes around morphology, geology, and increasingly more important atmospheric influences. It is our duty to act responsibly and to respect the territory. We believe that we have to read the landscape wherein our building sites are located very carefully and look beyond the borders. Architecture cannot be separated from the topography. Surrounding and building adhere to each other. The constraints between the outside and the inside blur.
How do you approach working with clients to understand their needs and visions?
The first contact usually happens by phone. Then a physical meeting follows. We get to know each other. The right atmosphere between the clients and us is very important. We try to find out about their visions of living, their daily needs, their ideas of space. We are interested in feeling emotions, in asking questions, and calling into question. We want to create friction to trigger something new. Building has to be a challenge for all involved parties so that something new can arise. We want our clients to understand, that everyone has the right to feel free to break off if not feeling comfortable. Therefore everyone involved either clients or architects has to feel fine, respected, and taken seriously. The relationship between the clients and us has to be solid, as we have to face important and personal decisions over months or years.
What architectural trends or movements do you find most inspiring?
All the things surrounding us, all the spaces wherein we move, affect our perception and sensation of the world and our presence in it. Our physical and digital environment is constantly facing us with ephemeral impressions. Filtering these is a real challenge. We accurately follow the development of contemporary architecture, all over the world and particularly in Italy. We are interested in art, design, literature, both contemporary and historic. There is no specific trends or movements we strictly follow, but a lot is going on in the most diverse sectors. Never stop learning, being curious and ambitious to evolve tailor-made projects – that’s our motivation and inspiration.
What advice would you give to aspiring architects?
Our profession demands great effort and dedication, high professionalism, and responsibility. We have to be sensitive about social needs and changes. Therefore it is essential to accumulate positive energies, to make them predominate and not to give up. Be ambitious and curious, be critical of yourselves, acquire solid working skills and get your workflow straight, admire others, and look around you! Be awake, be special, be sensitive, and be passionate!
