Wohnhaus Z

Studioraumdrei architekten’s 2018 renovation and extension of Wohnhaus Z in Mühlbach, Pustertal, reinterprets a rural South Tyrolean dwelling through precise materiality and contextual sensitivity. The project transforms an existing single-family home by adding an autonomous wing that bridges modern intervention with the region’s agricultural and alpine traditions. Positioned on a meadow near Vals, the extension avoids the visual weight of new construction, instead unfolding as a low-lying, elongated volume that mirrors the horizontal lines of the surrounding fields.

The design prioritizes local materials—rough-hewn stone and warm timber—to anchor the building in its landscape, while a restrained palette of earthy tones and natural textures reinforces the connection to the Pustertal’s rural identity. Interior spaces flow seamlessly between old and new, with the extension’s circulation designed to maximize daylight and ventilation, a nod to passive climate strategies typical of alpine architecture. Despite the absence of explicit Klimahaus certification, the project’s reliance on natural ventilation and locally sourced materials aligns with sustainable principles common to the region’s vernacular.

Collaborating with Arch. Jürgen Prosch and Arch. Felix Kasseroler, Studioraumdrei architekten demonstrates how contemporary residential design in South Tyrol can honor tradition without imitation. The result is a home that feels both timeless and deliberately of its place—a quiet testament to how architecture can adapt without erasing its surroundings. Photographs by Gustav Willeit.