The Austrian Lake Residence
Photography: Matthew Gormly and Christoph Philadelphia
Norbert Hartl spent 30 years in an idyllic 600 year Mill on an Austrian riverside, but always knew that when he moved, it would only be to the shores of the picturesque Attersee. Having finally found the perfect plot, he set five architect friends the task of creating a modern yet timeless residence. Alongside the chosen architectural firm Architekturbüro F2, he enlisted the expertise of interior designer Martin Steininger, Managing Director of Steininger Designers, and together they pursued a design that incorporated an ambitious use of Dekton®.
Dekton®, inside and out.
With an open mind and inspired by architects such as Calatrava, Norbert set about creating a home that was minimalist in design and colour. The key to this architectural triumph is the creative use of modern Dekton® throughout. Floors, kitchen surfaces, stairs, external cladding, flowing from the outside in, the materiality ties the classic contemporary design together.
Behind closed doors…
The kitchen planning, in the skilled hands of Steininger, a confirmed minimalist, led to appliances being hidden from view; not just fridges, but almost everything functional is concealed by ‘pocket’ doors that open 90º and slide into a narrow gap between the units. The effect is of a wall opening to reveal, for instance, a kitchen.
The doors open and the chef is awakened. New to cooking, the owner discovered he was not without talent, he likes to create using the local wild game he has preserved in his vacuuming drawer, slow-cooking it in the warming drawer. A separate area alongside the kitchen-in-disguise houses Gaggenau fridges and wine climate cabinets. Everything is within easy reach, whether baking, microwaving, steaming, warming, sous-viding or using the flex induction. The cooktop’s downdraft extractor is the secret hero for the open plan room, removing vapour, aromas and heat at source.
Having created the meal, the doors close and the kitchen disappears.
Once he saw them, it had to be Gaggenau.
On Steininger’s recommendation, Norbert visited Gaggenau’s Vienna showroom and was convinced: it had to be Gaggenau. Not only that, the kitchen design had to change to accommodate his desire for the bigger 76 cm combi-microwave, oven and warming drawer. He is a frequent user of the oven’s vast baking stone accessory to make expansive, crisp pizzas, while the combi-steam oven and vacuuming drawer together make sous-vide, effortless.
Devices featured in article:
