Hinteralmhaus, Neuberg an der Mürz (AT)
Timber construction,
Circular construction
Hinteralmhaus, Neuberg an der Mürz (AT)
Further construction, Re-use
Client: Alpenverein Edelweiss
Location: Hinteralm, Neuberg a.d. Mürz, Steiermark
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller
Competition: 2023
Construction: 2025 – 2026
Area: ca. 300m²
Programme: Replacement building with 30 beds, accessible double room, guest room and terrace
Photos and Plans: Dietrich Untertrifaller
Team
Tobias Indermühle, Axel Laimer-Liedtke (project management), Anna Mascher, Julian Roiser (competition), Stefan Sammer, Florian Xander (competition)
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Planning
Statics, timber construction: Merz Kley Partner, Dornbirn
Building services, electrics, acoustics: Sima Consulting, Vienna
Building physics: Hacon Engineering, Oberdorf
Fire protection: Norbert Rabl Ziviltechniker, Graz
Water engeneering: D.I. Josef Manfreda, Gaimberg
Survey: Bogensberger Vermessung ZT, Wien
Circular Design: materialnomaden, Wien
Pollutants and impurities assessment: RM Umweltkonsulenten, Wien
Tendering / local construction supervisors: Arch. Mag. Barbara Fink-Hauer, Wien
A sheltered roof over your head
The Edelweiss Alpine Club describes the Hinteralmhaus as one of the most important huts in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park. The positioning on the alpine pasture and the distinctive shape of the old hut are also retained in the replacement building. The building has been adapted to the existing cubature without significantly changing the orientation and proportions of the striking gabled façade. The Hinteralmhaus is the only building that stands at right angles to the other huts on the mountain pasture. The replacement building also responds to this distinctive rotation and its position reacts to the existing topography.
The building will be constructed in solid wood. The simple structure is planned using renewable building materials. The construction will be supplemented with building materials from the existing hut. The high degree of prefabrication and the recycling of existing materials from the demolition work enable a simple, ecological and economical construction.
Plinth, joint and gable
The plinth is being rebuilt using natural stone masonry from the region. Above this, the receding ground floor forms a weather-protected joint. This is followed by the widely projecting, dark-coloured roof.
The gable surfaces are clad with vertical battens made of dark-glazed silver fir wood. The diamond-shaped wooden structure in front of the gable façade echoes the traditional haylofts and is a unique feature that gives the Hinteralmhaus its identity. In terms of colour, the PV roof, gable and roof windows and gable façade form a dark, restrained unit - the sheltered roof over your head.
The timber construction stands on a solid base made clinker-reduced of in-situ concrete. The openings in the centre wall under the ridge allow the installation of bunks in the roof space. The two storey ceilings, also made of cross-laminated timber, rest on this cross-laminated timber wall. Another advantage of the timber frame construction method is that the structural elements at the same time form visible finished surfaces. Untreated spruce wood is also used extensively on all interior walls.
The windows and exterior doors are made of larch wood, as are the façades, while the furniture and soffits in the guest room are made of silver fir. The furniture in the rooms is also made of spruce, thus matching the timber construction. The wooden floorboards from the existing hut are also being reused, and the bench from the old parlour can also continue to be used.
The recycled building material obtained from the solid components of the old hut was processed on site and reused. The excavated material was also professionally assessed and reused on site without being removed. This meant that a large part of the demolition material could be reused.
Dismantling the old Hinteralmhaus
