Idyllically sheltered within the limestone Alps of Lower Austria, Waidmannsbach is a small settlement scattered between a mountain stream and dense spruce forest. In this almost painterly landscape — one that recalls the work of artist Friedrich Gauermann, a native of the area — a small farmhouse has stood for nearly two centuries. Now inhabited by the third generation, it is affectionately known as the ‘HÄUSL.’, an Austrian diminutive meaning ‘little house’.

Over time, the house had been weakened by a series of ad hoc extensions, partial renovations, and persistent groundwater pressure from the slope behind it. For Austrian studio STEINBAUER architektur+design, preserving the building’s inherent character while protecting it from these conditions required interventions that were both sensitive and structurally decisive.

Stabilising the existing house

All later additions were removed, together with the remains of the mountain-facing longitudinal wall. The eroded zone between the existing house and the porous rock behind it was then closed by a new elongated volume measuring 15 metres by 2.4 metres by 4.5 metres.

The extension stabilises the hillside, channels groundwater in a controlled manner, and provides 25 square metres of additional living space. In doing so, it also contributes to the long-term protection of the historic farmhouse.

Preserving and adapting the almost 200-year-old building, rather than replacing it, formed the project’s primary environmental strategy. A substantial proportion of the original masonry walls and timber roof structure was retained and repaired, while existing spruce elements were individually inspected, repaired where necessary, and reintegrated into the building.

Reorganising the interior

Following the restructuring of the HÄUSL., the traditional stube, or central living space, remains the social and spatial heart of the house. From this central room, two nearly identical bedrooms are accessed, one to the north and the other to the south. A clearly articulated joint between old and new allows the existing rooms to extend by almost two metres into the slope.

A compact new kitchen complements the stube, while each bedroom has its own bathroom. Daylight enters the original structure through restored west-facing traditional double windows, while the extension is illuminated from above by a series of precisely positioned rooflights. Together, these openings provide daylight and natural cross-ventilation throughout the house.

A material contrast between old and new

The clear distinction between existing and new construction was intentional, allowing the contemporary intervention to remain legible while supporting future repair and adaptation. Robust, durable materials with low maintenance requirements were selected to limit the need for future intervention. The original building is characterised by whitewashed plaster, restored old spruce timber, and burnished steel. In contrast, the extension uses sandblasted concrete, black mastic asphalt, and polished stainless steel.

By integrating the insulation within the wall construction, the extension can also be expressed externally in sandblasted concrete.