A work live studio was first set up as an architect’s office for himself in 2005 when Daniel Fügenschuh converted a townhouse from 1914 in Innsbruck. Over the years the office space became too small and he decided to expand his office by placing a new built office in the underground of the townhouses’ garden.
After completion the garden was laid on top again. Only a skylight at the back of the house has been inserted flush with the lawn in the garden above thus providing further natural lighting at the deep end in addition to the extensive glass façade to the south.
The 5-6 meters high room was constructed in pre-fabricated fair faced concrete. In conjunction with the light grey carpet the room has the formal expression of a monolithic skin and with one side opened up to the city and defines a void in the landscape. Stairs and gallery are crafted in local larch wood and contribute to a warm ambience. The warehouse type approach of construction combined with high quality façade, office light fittings and furniture create an atelier-like atmosphere of the space.
Being underground the insulation could be halved whilst keeping a high U-value at the same time. Photovoltaic cells produce more electrical power than is needed in this self-sufficient office building.
