Craft and innovation

... in the Bregenzerwald region.

Quality craftsmanship is a key prerequisite for quality architecture in the building culture of Vorarlberg. From timber to exposed concrete, plans and designs must be tailored to the needs of materials – and processing must be performed with care to ensure the perfect finish.

Craftsmanship is one of the foundational elements of Vorarlberg building culture. Following decades of efforts to nurture cooperation and mutual understanding, the attention to detail and planning that cater to the needs of craftsmanship have served as key criteria for a number of successful architecture projects. The conscious selection of structural and visual materials has even become the basis for a new expression of architecture and aesthetics, with clarity and radically reduced forms ensuring that even more attention is paid to the surfaces. The qualities of untreated materials include fine textures and ageing, of which the silver-grey weathering of wooden facades is the most well-known example. However, the demand for perfect craftsmanship is also reflected in the processing of exposed concrete, steel and glass as well as interior surfaces featuring minimalist details.

This development is wonderfully embodied by the “Werkraumhaus” craft centre. Planned by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and built in 2013 by selected craft businesses from the Bregenzerwald region, it has developed into an international showpiece that celebrates craftsmanship.

Author: Array