A plus-energy house by sps-architekten in Upper Austria that harnesses the power of nature

Not far from Salzburg is a house built entirely of wood. The facade, seen from a distance in front of the wooded mountain slopes, may hardly come as a surprise. Only when viewed up close does the three-story residential and office building by sps-architekten turn out to be a truly outstanding project in which nature - both functionally and aesthetically - is the be-all and end-all.

"Oh" is a term one hears more often in connection with the Austrian office sps-architekten. However, the short word is not an exclamation of astonishment, but the dialect expression for the Fuschler Ache, a low mountain range river, which forms an idyllic landscape here and already had an important economic function for its riparians in the past.

Energy of the elements
If architect Simon Speigner is to be believed, the river could regain its importance, and so Speigner located his architectural office on a site near the water. A sawmill used to be located there. The new office building was to fulfill a sustainable and at the same time cultural mission, in short: be a true "cultural powerhouse." And indeed, the team of planners succeeded in creating a plus-energy building that now supplies almost 100 households with electricity. The energy is generated by a photovoltaic system and a small hydroelectric power plant directly connected to the building.

Creative contrasts
But the all-wood construction is not only a successful experiment in terms of energy. On the three floors with a total of 1,350 square meters of space, in addition to the architects' own rooms, the possibility for an interdisciplinary exchange with other offices was created. Studios for interior and lighting design, an event agency as well as two apartments, a library and an event room found space. The result is a communicative space where employees meet for communal meals or to chat by the fireplace. The goal is to open up this area of the building even more for cultural purposes in the future, says Simon Speigner.

Attractive contrasts
The aspect of openness also played an important role architecturally in the building, which is clad entirely in larch shingles. On each floor, generous floor-to-ceiling windows provide unrestricted views of the neighboring mountains and meadows. In addition, there are cantilevered ceilings that are also used as balconies. This creates a strong connection to nature in all areas of the building, which is also continued inside: Clad entirely in wood, the planners created a natural, almost pristine atmosphere, but without sacrificing extravagance. Soaped oak parquet and artificial stone for the floors, as well as untreated rough chipboard on the walls, create an exciting break of raw and precious materials.

Series E2 by Gira Thoughtfully discreet
For the interior design, the choice fell on straight-lined furniture and an unagitated lighting concept. In this way, attention is drawn primarily to the structures and surfaces of the various woods, and a calm, harmonious overall effect is created that is not disturbed even by the electrical fixtures. The classic switch range E2 from Gira was particularly suitable for this purpose. On the one hand hard-wearing and easy to clean, on the other hand reduced in form and simple, it adapts functionally as well as aesthetically to the special requirements of living and working spaces.

It is precisely this careful handling of seemingly inconspicuous details that makes the PlusEnergy building so special. In this way, sps-architekten demonstrate their attentive eye for the respective surroundings - both inside and out.