Haus Max: A Hillside Home Uniting Sustainability and Artistic Creativity

House on the Hills: Harmony with Nature and Creativity

From Vienna to Perchtoldsdorf

A family of four sought a quieter place away from the fast-paced rhythm of Vienna. They found their haven in the rolling hills of Perchtoldsdorf, where Caramel Architekten’s 2023 design brought their vision to life, a home that merges living space with a private artistic retreat.

The Site as a Starting Point for Design

Choosing a sloped plot was not a challenge but an opportunity for creative thinking. Instead of resisting the terrain, the design embraced it, giving the project a distinctive character that harmonizes with the surrounding nature.

Architectural Levels in Composition

The spaces were arranged like carefully stacked cubes along the hillside. On the lower level, the concrete volume merges with the ground, accommodating the garage and the artist’s studio, with a height of three meters opening directly to the garden through wide covered terraces.

Between Stability and Openness

This strategic placement created a balance between the solidity of the concrete structure and the openness to nature provided by the terraces. As a result, the studio became not just a functional space, but a creative environment that breathes with its natural surroundings.

Materials as a Medium for Environmental Harmony

The design relied on cross-laminated timber (CLT) to replace concrete in the upper floors, giving the home warmth and remarkable precision. Where needed, steel elements were introduced to reinforce structural strength, creating a visual contrast between the rigidity of metal and the untreated natural wooden surfaces. Over time, the timber façade will weather to a refined silvery-gray tone, reflecting the surrounding natural landscape.

Façade and Aesthetic Character

This interplay between wood and steel goes beyond structural considerations, enhancing the building’s visual presence and rooting it within its geographical context. The choice of materials was not merely a technical decision, but a way to highlight harmony with nature.

Sustainability at the Core of Design

The roof was concealed beneath Sun-Skin photovoltaic panels that feed into battery systems, moving the house closer to energy self-sufficiency. Deep geothermal drilling powers an efficient heat pump, while cellulose fiber insulation wraps the structure to maintain balanced thermal comfort throughout the year.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Thanks to a high degree of prefabrication, waste during construction was minimized, and on-site disruption was reduced. In this way, the project achieved not only architectural excellence but also a clear commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness.

Functional Harmony Across Levels

The upper floor transforms into a space of pure indulgence, hosting multimedia rooms and musical areas connected to covered terraces that open to different directions. This layout assigns each level a clear function while maintaining continuous visual links between the floors, reinforcing the sense of internal cohesion.

A Gradient of Daily Life

On the lower level, embedded in the ground, lies the artist’s studio with its creative atmosphere. Family life unfolds on the intermediate level, while the top floor, with its leisure spaces, crowns the architectural composition. Additionally, the extended covered outdoor rooms create a seamless indoor–outdoor dimension that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

An Architectural Vision in Harmony with Nature

Through the lens of Hertha Hurnaus, the essence of the design becomes clear: architecture that enhances the natural landscape rather than dominating it. Precision in engineering did not strip away warmth, and contemporary elements blended harmoniously with the surrounding context.

Between Comfort and Beauty

This project proves that escaping the city’s hustle does not mean abandoning refined design. On the contrary, Caramel Architekten masterfully crafted a rare model: a home that balances the demands of daily living with the realm of creative dreams.

FAQs

1. How does the design incorporate sustainability?

The project relied on integrated energy solutions to minimize dependence on traditional networks. The entire roof is covered with Sun-Skin photovoltaic panels, with energy stored in on-site batteries. In addition, deep geothermal drilling powers an efficient heat pump for heating and cooling. To further enhance efficiency, the structure is wrapped in cellulose fiber insulation, while the use of natural wood and prefabricated elements helped reduce the environmental footprint of construction.

2. What distinguishes the architectural composition?

The uniqueness of the design lies in its positive approach to the sloping terrain, where the spaces are arranged vertically: the lower floor houses the studio and garage, while the living areas occupy the upper levels. Materials such as cross-laminated timber and exposed steel were used to create a warm yet contemporary atmosphere, while the wide terraces blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Over time, the weathered wooden façade acquires a natural gray tone that blends with the surrounding environment.

3. What was the inspiration behind the project?

The idea stemmed from the family’s desire to step away from the fast pace of city life and find a peaceful retreat that also nurtures creativity. The sloping landscape of Perchtoldsdorf offered an opportunity for a layered design that connects each level uniquely to the natural scenery. Caramel Architekten’s team focused on achieving a balance between structural stability and visual openness, creating a home that supports both daily living and artistic ambitions.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Haus Max presents an architectural model rich in innovation and sustainability, successfully integrating natural terrain with tiered living spaces that balance family life and artistic creativity.
Carefully selected materials, such as cross-laminated timber and photovoltaic panels, add clear value both environmentally and aesthetically.

On the other hand, the heavy reliance on advanced technical systems could pose long-term challenges in terms of maintenance and costs. Similarly, while the sloped site offers unique views, it may also impose certain practical limitations on everyday use.

Amid these contrasting aspects, the project stands out as a distinctive architectural experiment, blending aesthetic ambition with environmental awareness.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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