Matthias Hein, Vorarlberg Architect
Building houses that are loved
The one-sided consideration of heating and heat requirements is not enough. We are also increasingly thinking about how to use resources from the region.
The subject of sustainability has for a long time been very important to Matthias Hein. “The one-sided consideration of heating and heat requirements is not enough,” says the architect, who runs his office in Bregenz with three colleagues and who has won many prizes and awards. “We are also increasingly thinking about how to use resources from the region.” The construction of a kindergarten in Muntlix, for example, utilised excavation material to create a floor of rammed earth. The natural material is meant to create a pleasant room climate and a feeling of well-being. However, sustainability is not just important for new but also for existing buildings. Hain was responsible for the renovation of the Zwischenwasser village hall built in the 1930s, for instance. It was adapted to today’s needs to create a building that is locally very important.
Houses that are loved so much that people want to preserve them for as long as possible.
His special tip for the culture of building in Vorarlberg:
The Lake Constance shore in Bregenz. Matthias Hein recommends a walk along the shore of Lake Constance in Bregenz. Every metre of the shore is freely accessible and may not be developed or privatised. “So, between Kaiserstrand and the mouth of the Bregenzer Ach, there’s colourful and varied scenery with lots of culture and nature to enjoy.”
